Below we have selected an all-star fifteen we believe could win the All Ireland. The only rule with this alternative all-star fifteen. Only one player from any county can be named in the team.

1 – Graham Brody (Laois)

The Portlaoise man made our list of the country’s top 5 goalkeepers and is selected in this starting fifteen. His forays up the field are well known at this stage but just as importantly the Laois No 1 is a tremendous shot stopper when needed.

2 – Brian Malone (Wexford)

Classy Malone thinking only about the team and not this weekend’s personal milestone | Official Wexford GAA” />

A legend of Wexford football, the Shelmeliers club-man has been a thorn in the side of many a top quality forward for the past 15 seasons. A versatile player who can play all over the defence, he is worthy of his place for longevity alone.

3 – Ronan Mcnamee (Tyrone)

Mr Dependable at full back, the 28 year old has become arguably the standout full back in the game with his consistent displays in the Tyrone defence. The Aghyaran club-man was  a well deserved All Star recipient in 2019.

4 – Aidan Forker (Armagh)

The 28 year old has become Kieran Mcgeeney’s go to man for snuffing out the threat of the opposition’s best forward recently. An attacking player by nature, the Maghery man has now had to curb that somewhat but the benefits to his team from the switch have been evident over the last year or so.

5 – Lee Keegan (Mayo)

The 30 year old former footballer of the year is without doubt one of the players of his generation.

A brilliant attacking half back, the Westport man has also developed into a top quality man marker over the years and is often tasked with curbing the influence of some of the best forwards in the country these days.

6 – Donal Keogan (Meath)

The Meath man is selected to run the ship from centre back in this select fifteen.

The 29 year old’s attacking play from the half back line grabs plenty of headlines, but the Rathkenny man is equally as good at the defensive side of the game.

7 – Niall Daly (Roscommon)

An All Star nominee in 2019 the Padraig Pearses man is another great attacking outlet, capable of picking off important scores from the half back line.

8 – Brian Fenton (Dublin)

A brilliantly-worked goal from @RahenyGAA during the week- finished off by Brian Fenton

Raheny are back in #DSFC1 Quarter Final action this afternoon against @BodenGAA. Watch it live on Dubs TV https://t.co/3doFA84Xfh pic.twitter.com/UCDLbiMPrH

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) August 30, 2020

The finest midfielder in the land. The Raheny man is Dublin’s representative on this team and for good reason.

The 27 year old has won an All Ireland every year of his senior inter-county career to date, and few would bet against him collecting another one if the Championship is concluded in 2020.

9 – Kevin Feely (Kildare)

Kevin Feely fires to the net for @KildareGAA pic.twitter.com/ooTf8dtnXb

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 29, 2019

Without doubt one of the finest midfielders in Gaelic football today.

Influential in leading Kildare’s attacks from midfield, the former soccer player with Newport County is also a brilliant fielder of the ball and will be instrumental to Jack O’ Connor’s Kildare side when action resumes.

10 – Ruairi Deane (Cork)

A classy player, the Bantry man is an ever increasing influence on Ronan McCarthy’s Cork side as they bid to reclaim their county’s position as a force in Gaelic football. A brilliant fetcher of the ball out around the middle, the 29 year old is also a brilliant runner with the ball making him very hard to stop for any opposing defence.

11 – Michael Murphy (Donegal)

Michael Murphy taking full advantage of the mark to put Donegal back ahead.

LIVE now on eir sport 1! #AllianzLeagues #MatchNightLive pic.twitter.com/BneP97x9ms

— eir Sport (@eirSport) January 25, 2020

The Donegal legend could have been placed in numerous positions on this team with his ability in midfield and at the edge of the square matched by only a select few in the game.

It is at centre forward where he will do his best work for this team though, where he can drift inside and out the field to have an even larger influence over the team.

12 – Shane Walsh (Galway)

The 27 year old had been starring at full forward for Padraig Joyce’s Galway team before football was halted in the Spring, but he is named at No 12 in this selection.

This will not stifle him in any way however, as his natural ability on the ball and guile around the pitch mean he can act as a launchpad for attacks from out the field.

13 – David Clifford (Kerry)

Already a superstar in Gaelic games and still only 21, Clifford is the most talked about Gaelic footballer in many years.

From his minor days with the all conquering Kerry side to now, he has established himself as a generational talent and is on his way to becoming a legend.

14 – Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary)

The Clonmel Commercials star had originally opted out of the 2020 campaign, but the delayed season due to the coronavirus pandemic means that the 27-year-old will now be available for selection.

The return of the 2016 All-Star is a huge boost to Tipperary boss David Power as he looks to guide the team to Division 3 safety in the League, while building momentum for their Munster Championship quarter final against Clare on November 1.

15 – Conor McManus (Monaghan)

What a point! Watch this class score from Conor McManus! pic.twitter.com/UopRcS9Y9e

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 20, 2018

No player has contributed more to Monaghan’s development over the course of the past decade than their superstar forward Conor McManus.

The Clontibret star has positioned himself as one of the best forwards to ever play the game through his incredible skill and score taking ability and is a fitting final inclusion to this select fifteen.

The post A combined 15 of Gaelic footballers with only one player per county appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

So we have gone and done it. The only rule in this combined XV. A maximum of two players per county can be selected.

1. Enda Rowland (Laois)

A vital member of the Laois team that made it through to the All Ireland quarter final in 2019, the Abbeyleix man was made captain for the 2020 season such is his importance to Eddie Brennan’s men.

2. Sean Finn (Limerick)

The quintessential modern day corner back, the Bruff player’s versatility in his defensive play is what marks him out among the game’s elite defenders.

3  Liam Ryan (Wexford)

Big, strong and physical the Rapparees man is also a brilliant hurler, as his point against Tipperary in the 2019 All Ireland semi final proves.

4. Paddy Smyth (Dublin)

The Clontarf man only made his senior Championship debut for Dublin in 2018 but has already shown himself to be one of the finest corner backs in Ireland with his displays since his arrival on the scene.

What a save!! Paddy Smyth you legend @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/5vBXzyJRz7

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) February 25, 2019

5 Padraic Mannion (Galway)

The Galway captain for 2020 is without doubt one of the finest hurlers in the country when he is in full flow. At his best when he is driving out of the Galway defence, Mannion will be relied upon by Shane O Neill, as the Galway boss looks to lead Galway back into the picture for another All Ireland after a disappointing 2019.

6. Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny)

An all round brilliant hurler. Every team would love to have a player like the Tullaroan man. A two time All-Star, Walsh is the glue which holds the Kilkenny defence together. Designated to fill the problem position of full back for a couple of seasons before Hugh Lawlor’s introduction, Brian Cody now has the luxury of using Walsh out the field.

7. Padraic Maher (Tipperary)

The iron man of the Tipp defence, six time All-Star Padraic Maher has been a shining light for Tipperary since he made his debut in 2009. His ability under a high ball is sensational, as his ability to read the game from the half back line, while his ability to pop up with scores on a consistent level mark him out as one of the hurlers of his generation.

8 Tony Kelly (Clare)

One of the finest hurlers to ever come out of Clare, Kelly could have been selected in a number of positions on this select XV. A previous hurler of the year winner, Kelly has been a stalwart of the Clare team since he burst on the scene in 2012. Still only 26, its a scary thought for opposition managers and players that the Ballyea man should now only be hitting his hurling prime.

9. Jamie Barron (Waterford)

Jamie Barron gets a classy point for @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/8triBiA3af

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 8, 2019

A two time All-Star, Barron has often been the highlight in a struggling Waterford side over the last couple of years. A bundle of energy in midfield with a fair helping of class to go with it, Barron has managed to maintain his excellent form even if his team’s performances in the Championship have slipped.

10. Lee Chin (Wexford)

The Faythe Harriers star was instrumental for Wexford in 2019 as they won their first Leinster in 15 years, and pushed Tipperary all the way in their All Ireland semi final. Awarded his first All Star for his performances, Chin will again be vital as Davy Fitzgerald’s team look to make further progress in the Championship in 2020.

11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)

One of the best hurlers of his generation, Reid is undoubtedly the leader of Kilkenny hurling these days. Deadly accurate from placed balls and open play, Reid is also a ferocious winner of ball anywhere in the forward line. This enables him to pick off scores himself or lay on assists for his teammates, which he does  better than anyone else.

What a goal for Kilkenny's TJ Reid!! pic.twitter.com/cRBPUUbHJR

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 11, 2019

12. Joe Canning (Galway)

This Joe Canning point won @Galway_GAA an All-Ireland Hurling Final spot! Tell us what magic moments you think we'll see tomorrow! #GALvWAT pic.twitter.com/ZRcyWjBEJv

— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 2, 2017

The Portumna man took his own personal form to new levels at the back end of the 2010’s, culminating in finally winning the All Ireland in 2017. Canning was also the Hurler of the year that year, an award he could have easily won again in 2018 as his game went to even higher standards. A poor year in 2019 for his county that included a long term injury for the 32 year old, means both Canning and his teammates should be raring to go when their 2020 Championship gets underway.

13. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)

The Patrickswell forward is improving with each year he is in a Limerick jersey. A back to back All Star winner in 2018 and 2019, Gillane is now one of the most feared inside forwards in the game.

14. Seamus Callanan Tipperary

The most devastating forward in hurling today. Callanan fittingly won the Hurler of the Year award for his exploits with Tipperary in 2019, when he catapulted his already stellar career to even greater heights. He scored eight goals in the 2019 Championship, one in every game as he led his county to his third All Ireland medal and fourth All-Star. He also overtook Henry Shefflin as the highest ever Championship scorer from open play.

15. Patrick Horgan Cork

Still to win an All Ireland, don’t let that underestimate just how great a player Patrick Horgan really is. The third highest scorer in Championship history, Horgan has been the highest scoring free taker of the last decade. His scoring record from play stacks up against the best as well however, with only Seamus Callanan scoring more from play over the last decade than the Glen Rovers man.

Patrick Horgan scores Cork's second goal against Kilkenny at Croke Park – See the highlights tonight @rte2 and the RTÉ Player from 9.30pm #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/PTLHlb8VVr

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 14, 2019

The post A Combined Hurling XV with 2 players per county appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.