Opel Awards: A comprehensive list of 45 players - three in each position - have made onto the not so shortlist of nominations for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year for football which were announced by the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) today.
Players from 15 different counties make up the nominations to reflect the most successful counties in this year's championship. Therefore it will come as no surprise to find All-Ireland champions Tyrone picked up the most nominations with nine, while beaten finalists Kerry received eight.
The GPA also announced a shortlist for the Opel Player of the Year award with Tyrone and Kerry divvying up the four nominations between them. Tyrone captain Brian Dooher is named alongside teammate and favourite for the award Seán Cavanagh, while Kerry's Tomas Ó Sé and Declan O'Sullivan complete the quartet.
"Gaelic football is a team game, but as we all know individual contributions throughout the year are deserving of recognition," said Jack O'Connor, chairman of the selection committee. "As always with these type of awards, they are entirely subjective and are sure to generate debate. However, the committee feels the 45 players we have chosen have earned their selection."
GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell added: "There was clearly a high level of competition for places…and that is reflected in the calibre of candidates that have been included.
"I would personally like to thank Jack O' Connor and his committee for the work they have put into drawing up the nominations and I look forward to the next stage of the process when the players vote for their peers to pick the final 15."
Aside from Tyrone and Kerry, players from Wexford, Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare, Galway, Mayo, Cork, Limerick, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Armagh, Down and Derry are represented in the team nominations.
2008 Opel Team of the Year for football shortlist:
1. Ronan Gallagher (Fermanagh), Gary Connaughton (Westmeath), Anthony Masterson (Wexford)
2. Marc Ó Sé (Kerry), Dessie Mone (Monaghan), John Keane (Westmeath)
3. Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Francie Bellew (Armagh), Finian Hanley (Galway)
4. Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Anthony Lynch (Cork), David Henry (Dublin)
5. Tomas Ó Sé (Kerry), Davy Harte (Tyrone), Michael Ennis (Westmeath)
6. Ryan McCluskey (Fermanagh), Philip Jordan (Tyrone), Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry)
7. Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Graham Canty (Cork)
8 and 9 Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry), Shane Ryan (Dublin), Dan Gordon (Down), John Galvin (Limerick), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh)
10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Alan Dillon (Mayo), John Doyle (Kildare)
11. Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry), Padraic Joyce (Galway), Pearse O'Neill (Cork)
12. Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Redmond Barry (Wexford), Alan Brogan (Dublin)
13. Colm Cooper (Kerry), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Ciaran Lyng (Wexford)
14. Sean Cavanagh, (Tyrone), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Ronan Clarke (Armagh)
15. Tommy Walsh (Kerry), Michael Meehan (Galway), Matty Forde (Wexford)