Offaly Senior Football Championship Team of the Year 2025

4: Left corner back – Conor Dunican (Ferbane)
Conor Dunican's selection may appear to be from the left field but it isn't really and he makes the cut on full merit. Dunican's name may not be familiar outside of Ferbane but it certainly grew in stature in 2025 as he gave some really good defensive performances in the corner. He really came of age in their defence and used the ball well. In terms of county football, we don't know and he would possibly be a “project” but there is definitely something in Dunican and his name will have been noted by Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte. Tullamore's Ben Heffernan and Daire McDaid were also strong considerations. McDaid's quality and his attacking productivity from defence is well known to supporters but he didn't play enough. He was ruled out for Tullamore's first two games as he had been on a playing sanction in America and he only saw the second half in the run away win over Shamrocks. Aaron Kellaghan had him in bother in the semi-final, though he impressed once Hogan took over there, getting forward well and scoring three crucial points. He also did very well on Cathal Flynn in the final, even if Flynn was a big factor in Ferbane being so close. Ben Heffernan was close as he is a very effective man marker. You won't see him soloing up the field much or firing over points but he just defends really well, marks his man, stays tight and limits his influence – and that is what a defender should do first and foremost. Bracknagh's Fionn Dempsey also had some very good games and was in the reckoning.