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Hard Luck

The 10 players unlucky to miss out on a football or hurling Allstar

The 2014 hurling and football Allstar teams were officially announced last night in the capital.

Conor Fogarty – Kilkenny (hurling)

Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan’s midfield partner was the favourite to join him in making up the midfield pairing in this year’s Allstar hurling team.

Fogarty’s workrate, strength and athleticism proved the perfect foil for his attack minded partner, and as the Cats received less Allstars than the defeated finalists Tipperary, Fogarty’s omission is one of the major talking points. Notwithstanding Shane Mcgrath’s excellent year of course.

Conor Fogarty Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Lee Chin – Wexford (hurling)

Former dual star Lee Chin made the decision to focus on the Wexford hurling panel this year to the delight of manager Liam Dunne.

Chin’s athleticism and tenacity around the middle was key to Wexford’s breakthrough this year, with his performance in the win over Waterford really catching the eye.

The Opel GAA GPA Hurler of the Month for last July will no doubt be back in the reckoning in the near future, whether it be for his performances with the big or small ball though we’ll have to wait and see.

Wexford Gaa / YouTube

Cathal Barrett – Tipperary (hurling)

This year’s Young Hurler of the Year, like the football winner Ryan McHugh, was not awarded an Allstar despite receiving this accolade.

Barret brought huge surety to the Tipperary defence, rotating between the half and full back line his standout performance came in holding Cork’s scoring machine Pat Horgan scoreless in this year’s semi final. A feat which hadn’t been achieved in over four years.

Cathal Barrett and Patrick Horgan James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Richie Power – Kilkenny (hurling)

Considering that Richie Power scored three crucial goals from play during this year’s drawn and replayed All-Ireland final, and based on the same rationale which handed Kieran Donaghy a footballing Allstar – the Kilkenny attacker looked odds on to pick up an award last night.

Despite suffering through injury for the guts of the championship, Power returned at the semi final stage of the All-Ireland series and quickly continued his role as the team’s main score-getter.

Sports Weekly News / YouTube

Padraig Walsh – Kilkenny (hurling)

Tommy’s younger brother really made a name for himself this summer, plugging a number of roles for Brian Cody throughout the year before being handed a starting position back in the defence for the replayed All-Ireland final.

Man of the Match for many, adding a point to a commanding aerial and all round defensive performance, a lesser All-Ireland final performance has earned many an Allstar in the past.

Aidan O’Mahony – Kerry (football)

Aidan O’Mahony had been written off before and often during this year’s football championship having been niggled by injuries and with his career edging on – but the Kerry defender certainly rolled back the years for Kerry this summer.

At 34 O’Mahony brought massive experience and leadership to a young Kerry defence, with his All-Ireland final marking job on Michael Murphy being the highlight of his season. Not too many defenders nationwide have the mental strength and physicality to compete with the big Donegal full forward.

Michael Murphy and Aidan O'Mahony Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Donnchadh Walsh – Kerry (football)

Walsh is another Kerry player unlucky not to have picked up an award, with his level of consistency for the All-Ireland winners sure to have won an award in many a year gone by.

Remarkably this Kerry team picked up just five awards between them, the lowest margin for an All-Ireland winning team since Cork’s four in 2010.

Walsh brought an added level of physicality to his all-action displays this summer and were it not for the competition in this year’s half forward line where Diarmuid Connolly and Paul Flynn picked up the two half forward line slots he easily could have been in line for another award last night.

Johnny Buckley and Donnchadh Walsh celebrate Walsh with team mate Johnny Buckley who also had a very influential year. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Dessie Mone – Monaghan (football)

Dessie Mone continued his inspirational form from the 2013 season into this year’s championship, but for the second year running he’s been overlooked for an Allstar award. With only provincial winners being awarded football Allstars last night, Mone had the greatest claim to an award from the remaining 29 teams following his consistent displays in the half back line.

The Monaghan defender has blossomed in his more advanced role in recent years, balancing his excellent defensive capabilities with an eagerness to provide a constant outlet in breaking out of the back line with possession.

Ryan McHugh – Donegal (football)

Ryan McHugh continues the recent tradition of picking up this year’s Young Footballer of the Year award having not been selected as an AllStar, the last player to have picked up both gongs being Aidan Walsh back in 2010.

McHugh was nominated for a position in the highly competitive half forward line, but giving his versatility for Jim McGuinness’ team a position in this year’s half-back line may well have been warranted.

Ar an taobh líne / YouTube

Aidan O’Shea – Mayo (football)

Aidan O’Shea may have frustrated Mayo supporters from time to time this year, but the big midfielder is one of the few players in the country capable of turning a game on its head through his individual domination.

Often featuring in the half forward line this year, particularly against Cork, the Breaffy club man added some crucial scores. Yet whenever the Mayo midfield struggled he was also able to come back out and secure crucial possession.

Along with Colm Boyle his second half performance in the engine room during the drawn semi-final aganst Kerry was truly inspirational.

Peter Crowley and Fionn Fitzgerald with Aidan O'Shea James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

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