Enniskillen Town's Cathal Beacom selects the best Fermanagh and Western XI he has played against

I played a lot of football outside of the Fermanagh and Western but I started in 2004 with Enniskillen Town so I have opted for a right few players from back then.

If you were to ask me again in a couple of years it would probably change again, players like Richard Johnston, Paul McGrath, Benny Boyle, Jason Keenan could all be added but I didn’t play against them enough.

The likes of Ryan Hanna, Ciaran Beacom, Conor Tummon who I only played against once or twice also miss out, I played more times with them than against.

I have went for a 4-3-3 formation as I feel this would work really well with the team selected.

Goalkeeper

Ferghal Murphy (Irvinestown Wanderers)

Definitely the best I have played against at this level. Quality hands, good shot stopper and great distribution. Everything you would want from a keeper. Got to play with Ferghal in the Irish league at Ballinamallard no surprises he moved onto a higher level.

Right Back

Marty Flanagan (Strathroy Harps)

A superb footballer that could read the game really well and also defend. He’s not the tallest but super in the air, very calm on the ball and not often you would see him give it away.

David Crozier just missing out here, a very underrated player.

Centre Back

Benny McElholm (Strathroy Harps)

A superb centre half who made the game look easy. Read it well and great in the air. Was always a battle and he always made it difficult when making late runs into the box. I was lucky to play under Benny at Tummery, a real winner.

Centre Back

Raymond Carroll (Clabby Strollers & Lisbellaw United)

A very underrated player at this level. Raymie doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves and I had many a good battle with him.

He was at Clabby when I started playing and moved onto better things with Lisbellaw. No nonsense defender that popped up with important goals.

Left Back

Michael Kerr (Enniskillen Rangers)

This man can play anywhere and doesn’t look out of place. Makes a team tick and raises performances all round him. Unbelievable left foot, great vision and passer of the ball while he also scored some crackers in his day. Anybody that’s played against him would have him in.

Right Midfield

Gerry McCullagh (Tummery Athletic)

It was a battle every time I played against this man. A great engine, box to box, could tackle, score goals and had a never say die attitude. A real winner that kept Tummery ticking all the time. Looking at a lot of teams and I’m surprised he’s not in many of them. Very underrated player. Gave us the run around in the 2005 Mulhern Cup final.

Centre Midfield

Paddy Colton (Strathroy Harps)

A player with great vision, very cool and calm on the ball and a somebody I enjoyed playing against. Could unlock defences and kept Strathroy on the front foot all the time. Played the game at whatever tempo he wanted.

Left Midfield

Gary Maguire (Irvinestown Wanderers)

A player I had to fit into this team, has been doing it for Irvinestown consistently for years now. Wouldn’t be the same team without him a massive presence for them. A silky player with great vision and an eye for goal. Scored some very important goals for his club.

Right Wing

Aidy McCaffrey (Tummery Athletic)

Bags and bags of ability dripping from this lad. Serious left foot, loves assists and scoring goals. Played against him in that Mulhern Cup final in 2005 and he was unplayable, anybody watching that game saying this cub is going places. Loves a good rant on the pitch but a top man off it.

Centre forward

Ryan Cunningham (Tummery Athletic)

This man will go under the radar for a lot of people picking teams but not me. Who makes your defenders life hell? Definitely this man. A nightmare for any defender on a Saturday. Pace and could find the net from anywhere inside 25 yards. Great at holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Mark Jones and Nicky Noble just missing out here.

Left Wing

Darren Teague (Strathroy Harps)

A real athlete with amazing pace and a lovely left foot. Could really torture a right back, create chances for others with great delivery or beat two or three men and score himself. Helped Strathroy win a lot of silverware. He also played at Championship level with Ballinamallard just shows the ability he has.

This was tough but I’m very happy with my 11. These are the players that stand out for me and would take a very good team to beat this one.