Ian O'Riordan gets the reaction of two managers, Galway's John O'Mahony and Cork's Larry Tompkins, to this year's All Stars selection

The annual debate and controversy surrounding the All Stars selection has quickly centred on Colin Corkery's omission from the 2002 football team.

The Cork full forward ended the championship with the third highest scoring total - 40 points - and yet he failed to get a place in any of the six forward positions.

Cork manager Larry Tompkins has been unwittingly caught up in the debate, although for him there is no debate at all.

"I don't think it's necessary for me to defend what Colin did this year," he says, "because his record speaks for itself.

"It's just a massive blunder by the selectors. Is someone seriously trying to tell me or the people around the country that Colin was not one of the top six forwards in the country last summer?"

Part of the controversy stems from the practice of recent years where the All Stars selectors have been able to move players out of position to cater for their chosen line-up.

Armagh's Steven McDonnell, for example, was switched from the right full forward position, where he ruled the field all summer, to the right half forward position, where he has never played a notable role.

Galway manager John O'Mahony calls such practice a "compromise" that will still leave some problems with the final selection.

"McDonnell in particular is one to think about," he says. "He was superb at corner forward in all his games, and is one player who would be in contention for player of the year for his role in that position.

"But then you get a year like this where we had such a glut of magnificent performances in one area of the field, which was the full forward line.

"McDonnell was accommodated in the half-forward line, but you could still pick another line from say Declan Browne, Padhraic Joyce, Mike Frank Russell or Corkery or whoever else was nominated."

Tompkins also questions the make-up of the selection panel (i.e. the media), and called for a possible overhaul of the entire process. "I think that managers of county teams should be involved," he suggests.

"After all, they are the ones who see every player in the country, and repeatedly watch them on video and know their strengths and weaknesses."

For O'Mahony, however, a change in the selection process would only be cosmetic.

"Whether it's managers or journalists or God himself," he says, "there will be opinions on it either way. I wouldn't mind helping to pick the team at all, but maybe we as managers have enough teams to pick during the year."

Though Galway didn't experience a glaring omission similar to that of Corkery, O'Mahony did point out that as Connacht champions their All Star allocation - in this case none - could merit similar debate. Cork, the Munster champions, did get one selection in corner back Anthony Lynch.

"I could rant and rave about the absence of Galway players. We did win the provincial championship and so on, but I suppose the perception is there that we have done well in recent years.

"I do feel any of our four nominations would have deserved one, but managers all around the country would feel the same about their players.

"It may also be that All-Ireland winners get an excessive number, but then we've done well in that regard in the past.

"No doubt there are some players who didn't do so well early in the year, but played great in Croke Park. So there is definitely an argument for players being favoured based on their All-Ireland performances."

At the other end of that argument is Peter Canavan, who enjoyed an excellent league campaign, but then suffered from Tyrone's limited progression in the championship. His positioning at right corner forward suggests that certain selections could be now based on the entire season, more than just championship performances.

"I think there is evidence that that is happening," says O'Mahony. "Peter Canavan had a great league season, but then Tyrone went out early in the championship.

"Then he's had some great performances in recent weeks for Errigal Ciarán, and whoever was going into that room on Wednesday to pick the team had had a timely reminder of what a great footballer he is.

"So profile does have a lot to do with it. Maybe that's reflected in Dublin's three selections as well. And I do think it's a little lob-sided this year with only one selection from Connacht in Eamonn O'Hara. But then that was so deserving for several years work, and one that everyone would welcome."

The All Star debate will be expanded after tonight's announcement from the Citywest Hotel in Dublin of the 2002 hurling selection (Live on Network 2 at 8 p.m.). All-Ireland champions Kilkenny are in line to better Armagh's six nominations, with seven of their players strongly positioned for selection.

Of those, DJ Carey's name is all but engraved on the left corner forward position. Such an honour would extend his awards to nine - two more than the next best, Noel Skehan also of Kilkenny.

Only Kerry's Pat Spillane could rival that number with his nine football awards.

Meath senior football manager Sáan Boylan has named Colm Brady as his new selector to replace Colm Coyle, who recently took over as Monaghan manager.

Brady of the Simonstown Gaels club in Navan was at midfield on the Meath team which won the National League title in 1994 and helped the county to All-Ireland honours two years later in the controversial final against Mayo.