THE GAA ALL-STAR award recipients for football have been revealed – and have raised many eyebrows after not one forward from the All-Ireland and League champions, Cork, managed to make it into the final fifteen.
In fact, Cork have this year equalled the record for having the fewest representatives of an All-Ireland championship team in the recipients list, with just four Rebels being considered for the prized gongs.
Not since beaten finalists Down won their own title in 1991 have the All-Ireland champions been rewarded with such a small number. The Rebels become the first champions, however, not to have a single forward in the list.
The champions are represented by full-back Michael Shields, Paudie Kissane and Graham Canty in the half-back line, and Aidan Walsh in midfield.
Down are similarly represented by four winners – goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh, Daniel Hughes and Martin Clarke at half-forward, and Benny Coulter at left corner forward.
Elsewhere there were awards for Kerry (Colm Cooper at 13), Kildare (Peter Kelly at right corner-back, and John Doyle at number 12), Dublin (Bernard Brogan at full forward) and Tyrone (Philip Jordan at left half back).
Sligo wins only its fourth award, with Charlie Harrison named at left corner-back, while Louth wins its first ever gong with Paddy Keenan chosen in midfield alongside Walsh.
Cork selector Ger O’Sullivan told the Irish Independent that the selections were “a little bit strange”, given that the same county had won five awards last year despite having lost the All-Ireland final, and having only won Division 2.
“Having no forward in the team is strange but I don’t think they’ll lose much sleep in Cork. There were 3,000 people in Ballydesmond for Donncha O’Connor when he brought the Sam Maguire there and that’s what they really wanted.”
Down captain Coulter – who is set to miss the first of the two International Rules tests after picking up an injury in a club match – told the BBC he “honestly didn’t know if I was going to get one so I am delighted. It’s a small consolation – it doesn’t make up for losing in the final.”
The awards will be presented tomorrow night, when the hurling winners will also be announced as well as the winners of the Footballer and Young Footballer of the Year awards.
- Brendan McVeigh – Down
- Peter Kelly – Kildare
- Michael Shields – Cork
- Charlie Harrison – Sligo
- Paidi Kissane – Cork
- Graham Canty – Cork
- Philip Jordan – Tyrone
- Paddy Keenan – Louth
- Aidan Walsh – Cork
- Daniel Hughes – Down
- Martin Clarke – Down
- Johnny Doyle – Kildare
- Colm Cooper – Kerry
- Bernard Brogan – Dublin
- Benny Coulter – Down
Footballer of the year nominees: Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Michael Shields (Cork), Danny Hughes (Down)
Young footballer of the year nominees: Aidan Walsh (Cork), Peter Kelly (Kildare), Graham Reilly (Meath)
