Two Monaghan players were named in the 2011/2012 BT Ulster Colleges Football All-Star team this week. Mel Boyce of St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan and Jason Murphy of Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney both made the cut after the trial matches which were played in recent weeks.

Tyholland man Mel Boyce, who was a member of the county minor panel in 2010 and 2011 and is eligible again for 2012, captained the Sem in the MacRory Cup. A versatile player, capable of lining out anywhere in the forward-line, Boyce starred at midfield for the Monaghan-town school, but they were knocked out after a one-point defeat in a play-off against St. Pat’s, Maghera. Jason Murphy from Toome is still involved in this year’s competition, with Our Lady’s through to the MacLarnon Cup quarter-finals, where they will play St. Louis, Ballymena in February. Murphy’s impressive performances at full-back have been key in his side’s five-match winning run to date. Both players have already represented their clubs’ senior teams.

BT Ulster Colleges Football All-Stars 2012: Cathal Arnold (St. Patrick’s, Downpatrick); Patrick McBride (St. Mary’s CBS, Belfast), Tomás McCarron (Omagh CBS), Jason Murphy (Our Lady’s, Castleblayney); Ryan Johnston (St. Colman’s, Newry), Ciarán McCartan (Abbey CBS, Newry), Conor White (St. Patrick’s, Armagh); Ryan Dougan (St. Patrick’s, Maghera), Mel Boyce (St. Macartan’s, Monaghan); Terence O’Brien (St. Mary’s, Magherafelt), Dermot McAleese (St. Louis, Ballymena), Barry Coyle (St. Patrick’s, Keady); Kevin Quinn (St. Mary’s CBS, Belfast), Anthony O’Neill (ST Pius X, Magherafelt), Stefan Lavery (St. Patrick’s, Dungannon).