After another round of pulsating football, the Allianz League served up yet another round of high-intensity games, from goal scoring goalkeepers to super subs; an enthralling weekend throughout the divisions
Ethan Rafferty
The Armagh stopper kicked five points on Saturday evening against a valiant Tyrone side in his sides victory which saw them claim their first points of the 2025 league campaign. The role of the goalkeeper has become more potent than ever as a result of the new rules and the goalkeeper’s ability out the pitch is now as important as their quality between the sticks.
Rafferty marauded through the heart of the Tyrone defence to split the posts, selling dummies, kicking off both feet; a scoring performance a corner forward would be proud of. His accuracy from distance will benefit the Orchard County this season, with the Grange clubman kicking two 2 pointers on Saturday.
It was certainly a weekend for the goalkeepers as Offaly keeper Paddy Dunican kicked 1-2 against Laois, including a spectacular goal and an even better finish!
Cormac Egan
A fan favourite in the Faithful county, Egan’s directness and physical prowess saw him charge through the Laois defence as Offaly claimed a football and hurling double over their local rivals on Sunday.
The 2024 Offaly Player of the Year kicked one point, but his contributions to the Offaly defence and attack were a key factor in Offaly claiming another two points and maintaining their 100% record as Micky Harte and Declan Kelly aim for Division 3 promotion.
Harte spoke about Offaly’s aspirations at the beginning of his tenure
“The league is a great measure of the potential of a team, and being in Division Three, it was the same question I asked myself when I went to Louth in Division Four, I knew from watching football and watching Louth over the years that they were better than that, and I know from watching Offaly that they’re better than that too.”
Egan will be a crucial cog in this Offaly machine, currently playing for the UCD Sigerson team, the Tullamore dual star shows no sign of slowing down on the pitch.
Shane Walsh
Walsh will benefit from the fact that Kilmacud Croke’s had an unusually quiet off-season, having been defeated in the Dublin final by eventual All-Ireland champions, Cuala.
Walsh has said the new rules have given him a lease of life and he certainly showed that at the weekend, with the Galway forward kicking 9 points, including four 2 pointers. Walsh’s display of point kicking earned him a man of the match display in what was Galway’s biggest victory over their Connaght rivals since 1983. Speaking on the new rules, Walsh said:
” The game needed something. It was just getting so stale to be even part of those games”
Paraic Joyce’s men will have the Division One title firmly in their sights, with the Tribesmen being the only team to win their opening games in the division.
Paul Geaney
What an impact the Dingle man had from the bench against Derry on Sunday! introduced in the 60th minute, Geaney was instrumental in setting up Donal O’Sullivan’s goal, before scoring the winner in the dying moments of this thrilling encounter.
A game which saw a total of 45 scores, this match had been lauded as one of the best National League fixtures of all time. Kerry scored 5-15 in Celtic Park, with 4-4 coming from Dylan, Paul and Conor Geaney.
Geaney brings a wealth of experience to this Kerry side, at 34, he’s likely to play a pivotal role off the bench for The Kingdom this year as the veteran scored his 28th and 29th goals for his county.
Daire Ó Baoill
Instrumental in his sides victory over Dublin at the weekend, Ó Baoill kicked six points for Jim McGuiness’ men, including his county’s first ever two-pointer. The Gaoth Dobhair man was in sensational form in MacCumhail Park as Donegal romped home against a new-look Dublin team who appear to be in a period of rebuild.
With the surprising news that Michael Murphy was not included in the squad, Donegal were in top form in Saturday in what was their first appearance of the 2025 league.
Ó Baoill kicked two 2 pointers in his sides victory, a side who many tip as dark horses for this years All-Ireland, with McGuinness at the helm in the hills, Ó Baoill spoke of the intelligence of his manager
” Jim’s a bit of an innovator, he thinks differently about the game”
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