Ok, here is my attempt
GK - Wayne Russell. In my opinion, the best player who ever played for us. I said in another post that Dermot Keely going to Derry probably cost us promotion in 2003 but actually him taking Russell with him was just as big a factor even though Danny O'Leary was an able replacement. Could have been worth 10-15 points to us over the course of a season but unfortunately he injured his knee on his Derry debut and never played again. Honourable mentions: Danny O'Leary, Gareth Byrne, Austin O'Neill
RB - Ger O'Brien. A really top class full back who was our player of the year in 2005. Fulfilled his potential with Shamrock Rovers and developed into one of the best full backs into the league.
CB - Philly Byrne made more appearances than anybody else for the club and never gave anything less than 100%, deserved to be in a better Kildare team than he was.
CB - Damian Brennan. He was more of a right full for us but he developed into a top class centre half with Longford and Shels, he scored a great goal one day in a 3-2 over Galway.
Honourable mentions: Alan Byrne, Ray Kenny, Alan Keely.
LB - Darren Stapleton - Turned out to be a brilliant signing by John Ryan after just coming back from Reading. He loved to get forward and I really expected him to have the same kind of impact that Ger O'Brien had at Shamrock Rovers but it never worked out for him.
Honourable mentions: James O'Callaghan, Robbie Clarke, Barry Clancy
RW - Shay Zeller. If he never played another game for the club, he would have to be int this team for the winner against Bohs but he was much more than that for us. Lightening quick with a great eye for a goal and it was a real pity when he had to give up the game because of a back injury.
Honourable mentions: Cathal Brady, Alan McNevin
CM - Ben Whelehan. Flitted between centre half and centre mid for us. Nicknamed "The Terminator" by fans at the time because he was hard as nails. Another who went onto better things after leaving the club.
CM - Stephen Cooling. Hit double figures from midfield in 2006 and was the definition of a set piece specialist, any free within 30 yards was a goalscoring threat with him around.
Honourable mentions: Ray Scully, Gareth Cooney, Peter Rogers, Cathal O'Connor, Marc Kenny, Shane Harte
LW - Alan Kelly - Was brilliant for us in our first season in the league. He actually scored our first league goal against Waterford. Had a classy left foot and was another who was always a goal threat.
Honourable mentions: James Igwilo
CF - Philly Gorman. Club legend and the team never seemed the same when wasn't with the club. Scored more goals than anybody else including the first ever, he definitely was a local boy come good.
CF - Philly Hughes. 3 seperate spells at the club with plenty of goals in them all. Was still scoring for the club right up to the end.
Honourable mentions: Barry O'Connor, John Ryan, Martin Reilly, Ciaran Kilduff, Padraig Amond, Ger Robinson.
Bookmarks