5 All Stars for Ulster

October 18th, 2010

All-Ireland finalists Cork and Down top the list of GAA All Star, sponsored by Vodafone, winners for 2010 with four awards each.

Cork’s haul of four equals the lowest ever total for the All-Ireland champions – Offaly (1971), Dublin (1983) and Down (1991) all won just four awards – and not one of the forward line that played in last month’s final win over Down has been selected.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana said the selections were arrived at after keen debate amongst the judging panel, which was made up of GAA journalists and chaired by the Uachtarán.

“This is my second time chairing and certainly there was a lot more discussion and debate and there were strong views on who should be on the team,” he said.

“It would be fair to say that it took us the full two and a half hours to make the selection and it was very, very strongly debated.”

The Rebels have three defenders – Michael Shields, Paudie Kissane and Graham Canty – in the side, which was announced at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, while 19-year-old Aidan Walsh is named at midfield.

Brendan McVeigh is Down’s first ever GAA All Star goalkeeper and is joined by three Mourne County forwards, Danny Hughes, Marty Clarke and Brendan Coulter.

Louth’s Paddy Keenan has been named as the county’s first ever All Star winner, having shone for the Wee County in their run to a first Leinster final in over half a century.

“It’s not a question of what county you come from, whether you won an All-Ireland or a National League, it’s a question of whether you were considered by the panel to have performed outstandingly well throughout the season and were deserving of an All Star award irrespective of where you are from,” the Uachtarán added.

“I think Paddy Keenan being selected clearly shows that in a very strong way and that’s good to see.”

Kildare have two representatives including corner back Peter Kelly, while veteran attacker John Doyle takes his first award after finishing top scorer in the Championship.

As expected, Bernard Brogan is named at full-forward, but he is the Dubs’ sole representative in the side, with Michael Dara Macauley missing out in midfield.

Brogan’s selection set a new family record as he joined his brother Alan and father Bernard as All Stars. This is the first time a father and two sons have entered the honours list in football.

Brogan also won the Footballer of the Year Award, following a series of tremendous performances.

The Young Footballer of the Year was awarded to Cork midfielder Aidan Walsh.

In hurling, Lar Corbett and Brendan Maher, both from Tipperary, won the Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year respectively.

Meath and Roscommon, both provincial champions, are not represented, while Sligo’s Charlie Harrison is the only Connacht player on the team.

“I think it will definitely create debate in other people’s views as to whether this was the best team or not,” the Uachtarán added.

“That’s always the debate around an All Stars selection, but in fairness to the journalists they see games throughout the year so they are well versed on making a judgement call on who they consider the best people in the positions.”

Philip Jordan is Tyrone’s sole award winner, while Colm Cooper picks up his fifth GAA All Star at corner forward, with Coulter collecting his first award in the other corner.

2010 GAA All Stars:

Goalkeeper

Brendan McVeigh (Down)

Full-backs

Peter Kelly (Kildare)

Michael Shields (Cork)

Charlie Harrison (Sligo)

Half Backs

Paudie Kissane (Cork)

Graham Canty (Cork)

Philip Jordan (Tyrone)

Midfield