1 1999: All-Ireland semi-final, Meath 0-15 Armagh 2-5 - Having lost Ollie Murphy and conceded two goals in the first half, things looked bleak for Meath. It is not an overstatement to suggest McDermott pretty much reversed the flow of the game from midfield. Formidably strong, tough, skilful, it copperfastened his position as the pre-eminent midfield player in the game.

2 1998: International Rules: Australia 62 Ireland 61 - McDermott's debut as captain for Ireland. Although a late Australian revival saw them snatch the match at the death, the Meath man was the pick of the players putting on an air show at midfield. He overshadowed Nathan Buckley and Jim Stynes and underlined his physical prowess with a towering performance. His play in the final game of the series was described in this newspaper as "immense".

3 1998: Meath SFC: Skryne v Dunboyne - Although Skyrne lost this county semi-final by three points, Colm O'Rourke swears he never saw a more majestic performance by the midfielder. With Trevor Giles out with injury and about five other first-team regulars also absent, the odds were on Skryne getting hammered. Imperious at midfield, McDermott also pushed forward and covered untold ground.

4 1998: Leinster final: Kildare 1-12 Meath 0-10 - Regarded at the time as his best day in two years. Even though Meath lost, he overwhelmed the fancied Kildare pair of Willie McCreery and Niall Buckley with his fielding and distribution.

5 1996: All-Ireland final replay, Meath 2-9 Mayo 1-11 - His man of the match award was asterixed by some because Mayo's Liam McHale, star turn in the drawn game, was harshly dismissed in the first minute of this match.