9.
Right half forward: Cormac Egan (Tullamore) Cormac Egan was one of the first names marked down on this team. One of the most exciting players in Offaly football, he had some sensational games. Man of the match in the quarter-final win over Durrow, his pace terrified defences and so much ball went through his hands. He excelled at wing back for Offaly this year and Tullamore went with him there in the first round win over Ballycommon. While wing back will probably be his best position for Offaly, pushing him up field was a no brainer for Tullamore manager Niall Stack – Tullamore are rock solid at the back but had to inject more bite into their forward line and Egan certainly provided that. He missed a couple of games in the group and the format allowed the luxury of not risking injuries or allowing leeway but he delivered spectacularly in all the knockout games and was a huge factor in Tullamore retaining their title.
10.
Centre half forward: David O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks) David O'Toole-Greene makes the team as a result of two of the best individual performances in the group stages of the championship. He was superb as Shamrocks shocked Ferbane and Edenderry in their first two games. His power, physicality and willingness to run straight down the throat of the opposition were huge factors in those wins and these made Shamrocks' year. He was man of the match in the Edenderry game, very close to it against Ferbane while injury diminished his influence in the knockout stages. He missed the quarter-final and came on in the ninth minute against Ferbane but the difference between group and knockout football was clearly shown here as the finalists were clear masters on the day.
11.
Left half forward: Cathal Flynn (Ferbane) Cathal Flynn is another genuinely exciting footballer and he has to be on this team. Flynn can blow hot and cold but found more of the middle ground this year – in the past, he was either brilliant or peripheral but needed to do better on the days when he wasn't flying. He did that this year but at his best, he took the breath away with the quality of some of his play. Flynn has great vision and is a real ball player, willing to send balls in over the top and kick 30-40 metre passes.
12.
Right corner forward: Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) Jack Bryant showed his class in the Shamrocks attack and gets in ahead of Cian Johnson – Johnson's willingness to hang in close to goals and take his chances was instrumental in Ferbane going so close. Despite their group wins over Ferbane and Edenderry, Shamrocks' representation of three on this team may seem high as there was never one moment where you actually thought they would win a championship – at least for neutral observers, whatever about their own supporters! The three picked, however, all performed very well and Bryant was very good in some games. He ran the Ferbane defence ragged after they started slowly in their group win and that gave everyone else the confidence that they could take a big scalp. He was one of the few to truly ignite in the semi-final loss to Ferbane, scoring 2-2 from play – he scored 3-6 of his 3-10 from play and caused problems for every defence. Ryan Kenny deserves a mention as he showed very well at times in a Ballycommon attack that struggled to break down defences.