The Allianz Football Leagues have thrown up some very interesting results after two rounds. Heading into the break week, here's a XV of standout players from the first two rounds.
GK - Killian Roche (Laois)
A goalkeeper who has caught all of the attention for his performances in the first couple of weeks in the Allianz League. Even though he kept a clean sheet against Wexford away in Chadwicks Wexford Park, there is no doubt what has caught the headlines, his scoring record. In the first two matches, Killian Roche has hit 0-10, with 0-5 coming in each game. Against Longford in Round 1, he hit three of his five points from play. While against Wexford, his 5 points came from placed balls. It has been a truly outstanding start for the UCD keeper between the sticks for Laois.
Backs - Mikey Bambrick (Carlow)
Could we be seeing Carlow Rising: Part 2? Niall Carew has been doing serious work with Carlow since he took the reins following the departure of Turlough O’Brien and Stephen Poacher. While we have seen flashes of this work coming to fruition such as the brilliant victory over Tipperary in the Táilteann Cup in 2022, their start to the Allianz League 2024 has made people sit up and take notice. Back-to-back wins over Tipperary and Waterford have seen them shoot to the summit of the table, and in both of these games, Mikey Bambrick has been solid as a rock in their defence, standing out as one to watch going forward in this league campaign.
3 January 2024; Luke Killian of Kildare in action against Mikey Bambrick of Carlow during the Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup Round 1 match between Carlow and Kildare at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Pádraig Faulkner (Cavan)
An All-Star winner in 2020 alongside new manager Raymond Galligan, there was little doubt that Pádraig Faulkner would be a vital player to help his former teammate transition into the role as Cavan manager in 2024. Safe-to-say, in the opening two rounds of the Allianz League, Faulkner has answered that call. As vice-captain in the team, he has been solid as a rock. He impressed in the opening round as Cavan defeated Kildare away from home to kick their league campaign off with a win. Then in Round 2, Faulkner was a driving force for the Breffni men as they pushed Jim McGuinness’ Donegal all the way to the final whistle but came up just one point short of a result. Faulkner even marauded forward from wing back to land a point himself. It has been a very solid start to the league for Cavan, and Faulkner’s performances have been very impressive in these two games.
Jamie Clarke (Carlow)
Another shining light in Carlow’s undeniably impressive start to the league campaign. Jamie Clarke’s bold attacking style from defence has been a feature of their opening two games. Racing forward to kick a point in their opening day win away against 2020 Munster Champions Tipperary, he then went one better by hitting the back of the net in Carlow’s comprehensive victory over Waterford at Netwatch Cullen Park in Round 2. Jamie Clarke is a man to keep an eye on for Carlow going forward.
SEE ALSO: Defiant Conor Glass Responds To Critics Of Harte's Derry Selection Calls
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Paddy Durcan (Mayo)
In a Mayo team that has begun their 2024 League with back-to-back wins, Patrick Durcan has arguably been the best player in any Division over the past two weeks. He was selected as man of the match in their impressive opening day victory away against Galway, and was a pivotal figure in the Mayo team that defeated Dublin at the death in McHale Park. Once again in 2024, the Castlebar Mitchels man looks to be on form for Mayo.
Mayo GAA Senior football Captain Paddy Durcan spoke to RTE RTÉ Sport after receiving his man of the Match award. pic.twitter.com/yvoCQTxawW
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) February 3, 2024
Mark Timmons (Laois)
13 May 2023; Mark Timmons of Laois during the Tailteann Cup Group 1 Round 1 match between Cavan and Laois at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
A Laois GAA Legend. Mark Timmons is still doing the business for Laois at 37 years of age. In Round 1 he was outstanding at centre half back including setting up the Laois goal for Damon Larkin with a brilliant pass. The O’Moore County powered on to victory after this goal. In Round 2, Timmons was again imperious at the heart of the Laois defence. The base for a comfortable Laois victory in Wexford Park against the Model County was built off their midfield dominance, and Mark Timmons had a major hand in achieving that. It’s been a brilliant start for him and for Laois who now sit at the summit of Division 4 alongside Carlow & Leitrim as the only sides with back-to-back wins.
Daniel Guinness (Down)
10 June 2023; Daniel Guinness of Down during the Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter Final match between Down and Longford at Pairc Esler in Newry, Down. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
The Táilteann Cup Finalists Down were fancied by many to gain promotion out of Division 3 in this Allianz League campaign, and Conor Laverty’s men have not disappointed in their opening two games. Two victories, both without fuss. One standout performer in these two wins has been defender Daniel Guinness. Voted into the Team of the Week in Matchweek 1, Guinness went on to hit the back of the net for the Mournemen in Round 2 as Down defeated Limerick comprehensively. His marauding and daring runs forward from wingback have become a feature in Conor Laverty’s side, and long may it continue.
Midfield - Conor Glass (Derry)
The man who can seemingly do no wrong right now, Conor Glass has hit the ground running in this Allianz League campaign. He went from winning the All-Ireland Club Title with his club Glen after a performance for the ages in that All-Ireland Final, straight into kicking the opening point against Kerry in Round 1 as he and his Derry side began their league campaign with a notable win away to the Kingdom. Glass was prominent as always against Tyrone in Round 2 as well, striking the goal that all but finished off Tyrone’s challenge and guaranteed back-to-back wins for Derry under Mickey Harte.
Conor Glass, he does what he wants.pic.twitter.com/j0DOQHf7K0
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 4, 2024
Odhrán Murdock (Down)
Specially mentioned on Allianz League Sunday after his 2-3 salvo in Down’s dominant victory over Limerick in Páirc Esler, Odhrán Murdock has been fantastic in the opening stages of the league. Murdock burst onto the scene last year for Conor Laverty’s side, and his performances so far this year in the league will give Down fans confidence that he can make an even bigger stamp on Down’s championship season in 2024.
Forwards - Cormac Murphy (Derry)
A new star amongst the established Derry lineup in the opening two fixtures of this Allianz League. Cormac Murphy has had a direct and important influence in both of Derry’s opening wins. In Derry’s opening victory against Kerry down in the Kingdom’s backyard, it was Murphy who won the freekick that led to Shane McGuigan’s winner. In their victory over fierce rivals Tyrone in Celtic Park, it was Murphy who won Man of the Match and kicked three points as Derry made it back-to-back wins. There is no doubt he has impressed new boss Mickey Harte.
42 nóim, #DERvTYR @Doiregaa 0-10 @TyroneGAALive 0-05
Pointe eile faighte ag Cormac Murphy👏
Derry picking up from where they left off against the wind 🌬️
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺#AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/jDYUky8c5G— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 4, 2024
Fergal Boland (Mayo)
A true underdog story unfolding in front of us. Fergal Boland in 2023 had been dropped from the Mayo panel, and in 2024, he has been the main man as Kevin McStay’s charges have won back-to-back games to kick off their defence of their Division 1 League Title. Against Galway in Round 1 he kicked three points and shone in the day's dreadful conditions. In Round 2 against Dublin, it was Boland who popped up with the crucial winner, latching onto Ryan O’Donoghue’s clever pass to seal back-to-back wins for Mayo. Fergal Boland is back with a bang.
Fergal Boland wins it for Mayo! #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/0oFbvC9rTn
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 3, 2024
Stephen O’Hanlon (Monaghan)
The standout player from Round 1 of the Allianz Football Leagues in many people’s eyes, Stephen O’Hanlon has burst into life in the opening two rounds of this year’s competition. His performance against Dublin was inspirational. O’Hanlon’s goal just before Half Time was an outrageous shot past David O’Hanlon, and his point in the second half where he took on Jack McCaffrey has to be one of the extraordinarily few times that a player has outpaced Dublin’s ace wing-back. Even in defeat against Kerry, O’Hanlon still provided some gorgeous points amid torrid defensive pressure from Tom O’Sullivan and company. He is truly blossoming into an outstanding footballer before our very eyes.
Dominic McEnhill (Antrim)
Antrim’s go-to forward under Andy McEntee, Dominic McEnhill has been their leading light as the Saffron’s have shot out of the blocks with two wins from two to join Westmeath and Down at the summit of Division 3. McEnhill contributed 1-6 in Antrim’s opening day victory over Limerick, and he also hit the back of the net as Antrim edged out Offaly in Corrigan Park to keep their 100% record in-tact. The top scorer in Division 3, McEnhill’s performances will be a vital component of any success they achieve.
Seán Cassidy (Fermanagh)
One of the key figures in Fermanagh’s gutsy start to Division 2 this year, Seán Cassidy is stepping up in the absence of seasoned campaigners like Seán Quigley and Conal Jones. First Cassidy hit 1-2 against Meath in Páirc Táilteann as Kieran Donnelly’s men pushed the Táilteann Cup Champions Meath all the way to a draw in Round 1. Following this he and Fermanagh went one better as they hosted Kildare at Brewster Park and won 2-10 0-12, with Cassidy himself finishing the second goal to ensure the victory for Fermanagh.
Sean Cassidy ➡️ Lee Cullen ➡️ Glorious score 🏐
Did he mean it ❓
Lee Cullen opens the scoring for Fermanagh from a very tight angle 📐 #BBCGAA pic.twitter.com/FvR7EHzoLB— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) February 3, 2024
Oisín Gallen (Donegal)
Always a player with phenomenal potential, Oisín Gallen looks like he is ready to fire under Jim McGuinness in Championship 2024. Along with Patrick McBrearty, Gallen tormented the Cavan defence throughout Round 2 hitting 0-6 as Donegal made it back-to-back wins in McGuinness’ second coming as Donegal boss. Gallen oozed class throughout this game, and he made getting by the Cavan defenders look effortless, with his crisp finishing making sure that Donegal got the maximum return almost every time the ball was played into him. He is a forward without a ceiling on his ability, making it truly exciting to see just how good he can be for Donegal going forward.
