The GAA are to begin the search for a new sponsor for the All Stars hurling and football awards without delay. Powerscreen yesterday announced that they will no longer be sponsoring the project, but the GAA are emphatic that the scheme will be continuing.
Powerscreen took over sponsorship of the awards in October 1995, after the Bank of Ireland withdrew as sponsor. A new process of choosing the award winners was introduced, with players taking over the role from journalists covering Gaelic games.
Meanwhile, the Erin's Isle team are intent on a change of fortune as they face into the Dublin senior football championship final. Charlie Redmond, Mick Deegan and the Barr brothers, Keith, Johnny and Eddie, are key members of the Finglas team.
`The Isles' hope to end a demoralising trail of successive defeats in the final since winning their first title in 1993. They take on Malahide team St Sylvester's, the holders, in Sunday's decider at Parnell Park.
Deegan recalls the shattering sequence. "In 1994 Kilmacud Crokes beat us and went on to win the All-Ireland club title, the following year Ballyboden St Enda's beat us by a point and last year St Sylvester's pipped us."
Deegan continues: "It's hard to get there. We've been unfortunate to have players sent off in two of the finals. Basically, we had enough chances to win the games It wasn't that we were hammered. Kilmacud beat us by a point in extra time after a replay and went on to win the national title. So, that shows what a good team we are."
Keith Galvin, who is recovering from a serious illness, will not be available to St Sylvester's. But they have experienced players in Shay Keogh and Niall Guiden, and the Barnes brothers, Declan, Brian and Martin. In the Isle's camp, Fergie Browne is the only injury worry, and they deserve to be favourites to take the title this time. Tyrone forward Peter Canavan will be making a return to action with his club, Errigal Ciarain in the Tyrone county final at Dungannon on Sunday.
Injury-prone Canavan, who hasn't played since twisting an ankle against Dromore in a league match last month, links up with his brother Pat, Eamonn McCaffrey and Eoin Gormley to provide the backbone of Errigal's challenge.
Their opponents, Balgally, will be making their first appearance in the final in four decades. Their best known players are county reserve goalkeeper Joe Cassidy, and former county man Pat McKeown. Errigal's greater experience should be enough to see them through.
Clane and Sarsfields contest the Kildare football final in Newbridge on Sunday, and Clane's big incentive is to smash the psychological barrier and record a first win over these opponents in a county final. Sarsfields will be anxious to regain the title they last won in 1994. Clane's hopes largely depend on the performances of Martin Lynch, Brian Murphy, Paul and Eddie McCormack, and John Finn. For Sarsfields, the key players are Niall Buckley, John Crofton, John Whelan and the Earley brothers, Dermot and David. Garryspillane have reached the Limerick county hurling final from the obscurity of intermediate ranks, but Patrickswell, their opponents in Sunday's decider at the Gaelic Grounds, are taking nothing for granted as they go in quest of a 15th title.
Garryspillane, who have TJ Ryan and Frankie Carroll in their ranks, have beaten Ballybrown and Kilmallock. The biggest test for them may be against a Patrickswell side that includes Ciaran and Pa Carey, Barry Foley, Gary Kirby and John Foley, and this may be a bridge too far.
