Stuart Byrne column: 'Golden Stueys' time again as I pick my Team of the Year

It's time to dish out the Golden Stueys, my annual 'Team of the Year' selection from the Premier Division.

This has been a transitional season and we’ve seen the gap close with Shelbourne and St Pat’s catching up with Derry City and Shamrock Rovers.

You might call me biassed as a Shelbourne man, but I make no apologies whatsoever for putting six Shels players into my side. It’s so unusual for a team to virtually lead from the start of the season to the final day, and yet I don’t think the commentary around Shels has been fair.

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In my view, it was all set up this year for Derry City to be the team that kicked on to challenge Shamrock Rovers - but it didn’t happen. Shels picked up the baton instead and even with a European schedule to juggle, are still there and are refusing to let go. They are probably a year ahead of where they thought they might be, but they’ve been the standout team and dominate my Golden Stueys.

GOALKEEPER

Conor Kearns (Shelbourne): This guy has ticked so many boxes throughout the season, from clean sheets, big saves in recent games to ensure Shels remain in pole position going into the final night, not to mention his incredible distribution.

DEFENDERS

Sean Gannon (Shelbourne): Mr Consistency for me this year. He goes about his business with the minimum of fuss and I haven’t seen an attacking player get the better of him. Even when Shels’ form dipped, he was still on top of his game.

Paddy Barett (Shelbourne): I’ve seen a maturity in Paddy this year and he has bought into the whole project. He’s such a central figure at the back, but his ability to turn defence into attack is unparallelled. Can anyone hit 70-yard diagonals like he can?

Lee Grace (Shamrock Rovers): I’m sure some of you will see this as a controversial call considering he hasn’t always played, but when he does he’s the best centre-back in the league. He oozes class. With all of Rovers’ ups and downs, he still stood out and I'd have him in my team all day long.

Ben Doherty (Derry City): I’ve been at a lot of Derry City games this year and he’s always caught the eye. He loves getting forward, causing problems for midfields and defences, which in turn allows Michael Duffy to thrive. Everything good that Derry do starts with him and they’re not the same team when he doesn’t play.

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MIDFIELDERS

Will Jarvis (Shelbourne): Yes, right wing is not his natural position but he was just sensational and you have to shoehorn him in where you can. He was recalled by Hull City during the summer but Shels are where they are today because of the impact he made during that first-half of the season. I’ve not seen a player like him in the league for a long time.

JJ Lunney (Shelbourne): Maybe I see things that others don’t, but this guy is the best midfielder in the league at the moment. His ball retention and composure is ridiculous and he’s constantly threading balls forward. Shels missed him when he was injured but he’s slotted back in seamlessly and has been off the charts.

Dylan Watts (Shamrock Rovers): I bet he’s a pleasure to play with and a nightmare to play against. When Jack Byrne was at the peak of his powers, Watts found it difficult to find his place in the team. But with Jack struggling for fitness the last two seasons, he has stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Class act.

Mark Coyle (Shelbourne): This was a really tight call as I think Adam O’Reilly has performed a role at Derry City that’s just as important but it boils down to consistency and Coyle’s three goals - including the one in Europe - were also significant moments.

Michael Duffy (Derry City): I shouldn’t have to explain how good he is and with Ben Doherty behind him, no team has a left side that good. Duffy has weighed in with big goals and even when he’s not completely ‘on it’, his work rate and team ethic is so good for a player who may sometimes be only judged as a flair player.

STRIKER

Padraig Among (Waterford): This hasn’t been a vintage year for strikers and that’s why I’m only putting one into my team, although that’s probably more a reflection on the role of modern day forwards. But Amond has been consistent and his experience and leadership is why Waterford were riding high for nearly two-thirds of the season.

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