All-Ireland champions Galway have won six places in this year's Eircell-Vodaphone All Stars. The selection won't create too much controversy and features a first football All Star for Westmeath whose centrefielder Rory O'Connell is rewarded for his influential role in the county's great year.
Leinster champions Meath are next in the pecking order with four All Stars. Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry and Roscommon provide the remainder of the selection. There are seven debutant All Stars, including Francie Grehan, Roscommon's first award for 10 years.
The two most noticeable absentees are Seamus Moynihan from Kerry, whose full back position was taken by Darren Fay but who might have got in at left corner back ahead of Dublin's Coman Goggins. Similarly at left wing back, Sean de Paor got the nod. His colleague Tomβs Mannion wouldn't have been flattered by inclusion in that position.
The Player of the Year awards, voted by the All Star nominees, went to Tipperary captain Tomβs Dunne and Galway's Declan Meehan. The Young Player of the Year accolades went to Eoin Kelly of Tipperary and Tyrone's Cormac McAnallen.
Cormac Sullivan: Given plenty to do by the early-season jitters in his defence, Sullivan remained composed throughout the year. Great kick-out.
Kieran Fitzgerald: Recovered from some sobering experiences at full back to join a restructured full-back line for the championship push. He added pace and vigour to the line while his breaks from deep were eye-catching and effective.
Darren Fay: A great year for Fay, who held the full back line together during early difficulties and went on to dominant performances.
Coman Goggins: Acquitted himself well on Ollie Murphy in the Leinster final and battled away against Kerry. Pace and persistence are his prime assets.
Declan Meehan: Meehan's pace and reading of the game turned him into a candidate for Footballer of the Year. Exceptional display in the All-Ireland final showcased his ability.
Francie Grehan: Grehan quickly established himself as the leading centre back of the championship. Although Tomas Mannion took over that mantle after Roscommon's exit, Grehan deservedly held on.
Seβn de Paor: Subdued by his own standards, he nonetheless responded on the big occasions and patrolled his wing effectively as well as contributing a clever goal against Cork.
Kevin Walsh: If his value was brought home last year by his absence through injury, it was his presence that made the point this campaign. A calming presence, he must have been an unanimous choice.
Rory O'Connell: Westmeath's progress to the quarter-finals was one of the stories of the year. Throughout it, O'Connell's industry stood out.
Evan Kelly: Until the final - when he was by no means the worst - Kelly quietly underlined his reputation. His pace and strength on the ball combined with accurate finishing to deadly effect.
Stephen O'Neill: One of the Tyrone youngsters to make a name for himself in the run through Ulster, he found the going tough in Peter Canavan's absence, but was the team's best forward against Derry.
Michael Donnellan: Played at centrefield all year but pushed forward when required, he didn't have his most spectacular campaign but worked hard. Pulled off block of the year to beat Armagh.
Ollie Murphy: Would have been unopposed as Footballer of the Year, but for the injury-blighted final. Predatory instincts proved lethal for Westmeath against Kildare and Kerry.
Padraic Joyce: His year picked up steadily in general play. The second half of the All-Ireland copperfastened the award as it showed his great ability to ghost onto ball and his exquisite point-kicking.
John Crowley: After being unfairly deprived of an All Star last year, Crowley left nothing to chance this time.
SUPREME GAA ALL STARS (1971-2000)
HURLING: Noel Skehan (Kilkenny); 'Fan' Larkin (Kilkenny), Pat Hartigan (Limerick), John Horgan (Cork); Brian Whelahan (Offaly), Ger Henderson (Kilkenny), Anthony Daly (Clare); Frank Cummins (Kilkenny), John Fenton (Cork); Nicky English (Tipperary), Joe Cooney (Galway), DJ Carey (Kilkenny); Charlie McCarthy (Cork), Joe McKenna (Limerick), Eddie Keher (Kilkenny).
FOOTBALL: John O'Leary (Dublin); Bobby O'Malley (Meath), John O'Keeffe (Kerry), Robbie Kelleher (Dublin); Pβid∅ ╙ SΘ (Kerry), Tim Kennelly (Kerry), Martin O'Connell (Meath); Brian Mullins (Dublin), Jack O'Shea (Kerry); Peter Canavan (Tyrone), Matt Connor (Offaly), Pat Spillane (Kerry); Mike Sheehy (Kerry), Eoin Liston (Kerry), John Egan (Kerry).
2001 All Stars: Football
NAME COUNTY AND CLUB AWARD
1. Cormac Sullivan (Meath and St Patrick's) 1st
2 Kieran Fitzgerald (Galway and Corofin) 1st
3. Darren Fay (Meath and Trim) 3rd
4. Coman Goggins (Dublin and St John's) 1st
5. Declan Meehan (Galway and Caltra) 2nd
6. Francie Grehan (Roscommon and St Aidan's) 1st
7. Sean de Paor (Galway and An Ceathru Rua) 2nd
8. Kevin Walsh (Galway and Killanin) 2nd
9. Rory O'Connell (Westmeath and Athlone) 1st
10. Evan Kelly (Meath and Drumree) 2nd
11. Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone and Clann na nGael) 1st
12. Michael Donnellan (Galway and Dunmore McHales) 3rd
13. Ollie Murphy (Meath and Carnaross) 2nd
14. Padraig Joyce (Galway and Killererin) 3rd
15. John Crowley (Kerry and Glenflesk) 1st
