GAELIC GAMES:HERE WE go again. The annual debate over who should or shouldn't be in the running for a Vodafone All Star award has begun with the 45 nominations for the 2010 football selection – and while there are a few of the usual surprises, the big talking point this year is the limited representation of the four provincial champions, who have garnered just 12 of the 45 nominations between them.
Cork, as expected, are the most widely represented, with 11 nominations – a fair reflection of both their 2010 All-Ireland and indeed National Football League success.
All 11 of those played some role in last Sunday’s win over Down: starting with goalkeeper Alan Quirke, defenders Michael Shields, Paudie Kissane, Graham Canty and Noel O’Leary, midfielders Aidan Walsh and Nicholas Murphy, and forwards Paddy Kelly, Paul Kerrigan, Daniel Goulding and Donncha O’Connor.
Both Canty and Murphy appeared as replacements, which means the only Cork players who started last Sunday’s final and didn’t get a nomination are Eoin Cadogan, Ray Carey, John Miskella, Alan O’Connor, Ciarán Sheehan and Pearse O’Neill.
Cork, incidentally, had five representations on the 2009 All Star football team; Shields, Canty, Miskella, Pearse O’Neill and Goulding.
Sunday’s defeated All-Ireland finalists Down are the next best represented with seven nominees, with the two All-Ireland semi-finalists, Kildare and Dublin, receiving five and four nominations respectively.
Kildare’s five nominations are Peter Kelly, Emmet Bolton, Eamon Callaghan, John Doyle and James Kavanagh.
Dublin’s four nominations are defenders Rory O’Carroll and Philip McMahon, midfielder Michael Dara Macauley, and forward Bernard Brogan – the latter not only a certainty of making the final 15, but is the leading contender for Footballer of the Year.
So what of the provincial champions?
Ulster champions Tyrone are the best represented of the lot with four nominations; goalkeeper Pascal McConnell, defenders Justin McMahon, Joe McMahon and Philip Jordan – which means not a single of their forwards are nominated.
Munster champions Kerry received just three; defenders Marc Ó Sé, Tomás Ó Sé and forward Colm “Gooch” Cooper. Same with disputed Leinster champions Meath; forwards Graham Reilly, Joe Sheridan and Séamus Kenny.
Connacht champions Roscommon, who recorded such a memorable victory over Sligo in their provincial final, received just two nominations in forwards Cathal Cregg and Donie Shine.
Naturally, this poor showing is partly the result of all four provincial winners losing their All-Ireland quarter-final. Nevertheless, Kerry had 12 nominations last year, and ended up with seven awards – so the rather paltry three nominations this year will no doubt give manager Jack O’Connor further cause to repair some of Kerry’s reputation in 2011.
Also, the relatively open nature of this year’s champions is reflected in the fact that the 45 All Star nominees are drawn from 12 counties. Of those 45, only 10 are previous All Stars, with Kerry duo Cooper and Tomás Ó Sé the most decorated nominees of 2010, with five All Stars each.
Perhaps most surprising is the fact that only three of last year’s All Star football team are nominated – Shields and Canty from Cork, and Tomás Ó Sé from Kerry.
It means none of the 2009 All Star midfield, half-forward line or full-forward line selection is among this year’s nominees – including last year’s Footballer of the Year, Paul Galvin.
Beaten Leinster and Connacht provincial finalists Louth and Sligo, respectively, were rewarded for their resurgent seasons with two nominees each, while Munster’s defeated finalists Limerick have one nominee, midfielder John Galvin – one less than last year when they were also beaten provincial finalists.
