First Division Squad/Team of the year

It's that time of year again. I'd like the preface the following post with some explanations:

-The only First Division games I saw this year were ones where Limerick FC were playing. This is based off them and the opposition they were playing, stats I read from Soccerway, and some general impressions I've picked up from the posts of other club fans on here.

-I'm picking a squad, not a team, because I always find it very hard to narrow it down to just 11. Yeah, it's a cop-out, but sue me.

-My choices are pretty centered on the top three, but I think I can be forgiven for that.

-Plenty of players on my list play in more than one part of the pitch (like Gaffney), so apologies if some of this seems a bit off in that regard.

Anyway, enough justifications, here we go:

Goalkeepers
1. Barry Ryan (LK)
2. Craig Hyland (LT)
3. Packie Holdan (WD)
Defenders
4. Shane Treacy (LK)
5. Shaun Kelly (LK)
6. Noel Haverty (LT)
7. Des Hope (LT)
8. Craig Burns (WD)
9. Dylan Mernagh (WD)
10. Ciaran Coll (FH)
11. Brian McCarthy (AT)
Midfielders
12. Dave O’Leary (LK)
13. Rory Gaffney (LK)
14. Joe Gamble (LK)
15. Keith Gillespie (LT)
16. Alan Kirby (LT)
17. Colm James (LT)
18. Peter White (WD)
19. Gary Dempsey (WD)
20. Thomas McBride (FH)
Forwards
21. Denis Behan (LK)
22. Kevin McHugh (FH)
23. Sean Maguire (WD)
24. Danny Furlong (WY)
25. Thomas Crawley (LT)

Anyone else got a squad/team of the year?

Can't really argue with that squad so I'll try go for a starting 11,

GK:
Packie Holden

Def:
Shaun Kelly
Pat Purcell
Des Hope
Shane Tracey

Midfield:
Colm James
Dave O'Leary
Gary Dempsey

Forward:
Rory Gaffney
Kevin McHugh
Seanie Maguire

It's hard to know, I haven't seen as many games as I'd have liked. Wouldn't have Kirby in there from an LTFC point of view. He's struggled a little this year, the legs have gone. Gillespie was good, always runs himself into the ground which is a refreshing attitude considering how far he's come down over the years.

Hyland, bar one or two balls ups was excellent, Haverty was terrific too. Crawley very good so no arguments there. Opposition players that stood out from my limited viewings? Gaffney, Behan when he was arsed, Sean Maguire definitely, Gary Dempsey, and from the "lower clubs" Danny Furlong of Wexford, Tom King of Mervue (he's capable of much higher it just suits him to be in Galway it seems) and Curran of Salthill actually. Oh yeah Kevin McHugh too cheers Jofspring!

Having seen every team at least twice I'll base my team on consistency rather than what they do with the Premier League and vote on the best players over only half the season.

Goalkeeper
Craig Hyland (LT)
Defenders
Shane Tracy (LK)
Corie Tracy (LK)
Noel Haverty (LT)
Paddy Purcell (LK)
Midfielders
Dave O’Leary (LK)
Paul Malone (WY)
Joe Gamble (LK)
Gary Dempsey (WD)
Forwards
Rory Gaffney (LK)
Sean Maguire (WD)

Always going to be dominated by Limerick players but the best one off performance I saw was by Gary Dempsey. Can't give that man space.

I see Stephen Bradley isn't in anyone's team. Has he had a bad season for Limerick or just unlucky to miss out??

GK - Packie Holden - Waterford - Always looked steady anytime I saw him with Waterford

RB - Shaun Kelly - Limerick - a good attacking right back and comfortable on the ball.
CB - Pat Purcell - Limerick - no wonder they had the least amount of goals conceeded with Pat in there. Great organiser.
CB - Noel Haverty - Longford - Always looked fairly assured
LB - Ciaran Coll - Harps - Best left back in the league by a mile and one of the best in the country, getting better every season and still only 21.

M - Gary Dempsey - Waterford - oozes quality, his free taking is up there with the best.
M - Keith Gillespie - Longford - Still a great reader of the game and his passing from midfield is top class.
M - Tom King - Mervue - Should be at a bigger club, a lovely ball player and comes in with his fair share of goals.

F - Rory Gaffney - Limerick - so strong in the air and on the ball, great pace and a good brain. Deserves to be in the Prem.
F - Kevin McHugh - Harps - Best striker in the division imo. His goal against Wexford away recently has to be goal of the season, the vision and technique involed, I don't see many other players in LOI capable of the same.
F - Danny Furlong - Wexford - Another player who could be looked for by a bigger club, scored a good few goals this season, very lively and a good finisher.


Honorable mentions to Shaun McGowan (Harps), Seanie Maguire (Waterford), All of Limericks midfield, Denis Behan and Coly James (Longford)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PartySaint

I see Stephen Bradley isn't in anyone's team. Has he had a bad season for Limerick or just unlucky to miss out??

---

Hasn't been overly impressive any time I saw him to be honest.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PartySaint

I see Stephen Bradley isn't in anyone's team. Has he had a bad season for Limerick or just unlucky to miss out??

---

The way we played this year will never get the best out of Bradser imo.

Bradser?

Serious?

Serious as cancer hegster.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PartySaint

I see Stephen Bradley isn't in anyone's team. Has he had a bad season for Limerick or just unlucky to miss out??

---

In his own words, “My own performances haven't been as good as I would have liked. I have picked up a lot of little injuries and stupid suspensions which have not allowed me get a run of games and I believe you only play your best football when you play regular football"

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/9004/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Bradser?

Serious?

---

Hearing him called it by all of his team mates and manager has got it stuck in my head im afraid.

Corie Treacy has been our best centre back imo too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by osarusan

Serious as cancer hegster.

---

You know Rhythm is a dancer

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Hearing him called it by all of his team mates and manager has got it stuck in my head im afraid.

Corie Treacy has been our best centre back imo too.

---

I'll let you off this time.

Maybe but I still think Purcell is the one who holds it all together in that back line. If he's not up to playing Prem football anymore, ye need a damn good centre back to replace him.

Seeing more action and mroe teams than I have done in a few years. I'll go with

Goalkeepers:

Packie Holden - Waterford
Ciaran Gallagher - Harps

Defenders:

Ciaran Coll - Harps
Shaun Kelly - Limerick
Keith Cowan - Harps
Des Hope - Longford
Brian McCarthy - Athlone
Corie Tracey - Limerick

Midfielders:

Shaun McGowan - Harps
Joe Gamble - Limerick
Gary Dempsey - Waterford
Keith Gillespie - Longford
Colm James - Longford
Dave O'Leary - Limerick

Forwards:

Rory Gaffney - Limerick
Tom Elmes - Wexford
Kevin McHugh - Harps
Seani Maguire - Waterford

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

You know Rhythm is a dancer

---

Tom Coughlan is a chancer

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Tom Coughlan is a chancer

---

George O'Callaghan is a prancer...... ??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

George O'Callaghan is a prancer...... ??

---

id have gone with Georgie there to make it fit in better

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

GK - Packie Holden - Waterford - Always looked steady anytime I saw him with Waterford

RB - Shaun Kelly - Limerick - a good attacking right back and comfortable on the ball.
CB - Pat Purcell - Limerick - no wonder they had the least amount of goals conceeded with Pat in there. Great organiser.
CB - Noel Haverty - Longford - Always looked fairly assured
LB - Ciaran Coll - Harps - Best left back in the league by a mile and one of the best in the country, getting better every season and still only 21.

M - Gary Dempsey - Waterford - oozes quality, his free taking is up there with the best.
M - Keith Gillespie - Longford - Still a great reader of the game and his passing from midfield is top class.
M - Tom King - Mervue - Should be at a bigger club, a lovely ball player and comes in with his fair share of goals.

F - Rory Gaffney - Limerick - so strong in the air and on the ball, great pace and a good brain. Deserves to be in the Prem.
F - Kevin McHugh - Harps - Best striker in the division imo. His goal against Wexford away recently has to be goal of the season, the vision and technique involed, I don't see many other players in LOI capable of the same.
F - Danny Furlong - Wexford - Another player who could be looked for by a bigger club, scored a good few goals this season, very lively and a good finisher.


Honorable mentions to Shaun McGowan (Harps), Seanie Maguire (Waterford), All of Limericks midfield, Denis Behan and Coly James (Longford)

---

How Seanie Maguire who is top scorer in the First only makes your bench I never know. Kevin McHugh, best striker in the First?? lol Gaffney is miles better.

These threads are always terrible because people don't see enough of other teams.

You get people saying stuff like:

Quote:

---

LB - Ciaran Coll - Harps - Best left back in the league by a mile and one of the best in the country, getting better every season and still only 21.

---

Another Harps lad nominating two Harps defenders and a Harps keeper out of eigth available slots.

Only one shout for Barry Ryan as best keeper.

Ciaran Gallagher getting a shout. (My own opinion would have him in the mid table of the goalies at best)

The best player in the division by a mile in my opinion getting less shouts than Packie Holden.

People throwing in Brian McCarthy from Athlone as a wildcard, presumably because he's really tall.

Keith Gillespie.

Pat Purcell being described as a great organiser.

An average of two Limerick players per back five positions.

Nobody mentioning Peter White while everyone mentions Gary Dempsey.

Etc.

Etc.

EDIT: Just saw Thomas McBride!!