I am not a big fan of this 'award' as too often it flies in the face of reality. Players picked to get them an award rather than picked in the position they played.
Surprising to see only 5 for Kerry and 3 each for beaten semi-finalists. Fairly sure if Dublin won the AI, they would have 7-9 All Stars. Poor selection to 3 Dubs honoured; these guys destroyed inferior division two/three teams and then when the crunch came they were nowhere to be seen against Donegal. PF and DC were excellent for the first 20 minutes of that game, but when the team needed them to deliver scores in the second half they failed. Connelly definitely deserved one he was excellent even in that second half. Flynn was not there when it mattered; he got a 'handy' one I feel. Unbelievably James Mccarthy gets an all-star despite their whole half-back line getting destroyed against Donegal. This is the award I have most issues with; I can't see any way he deserved one.
For me Aidan O'Mahony is the big looser, he is nine years older than Michael Murphy and completely nullified him in the biggest game of the year. He was fantastic all year for us and definitely deserved one ahead of McCarthy. Frank McGlynn & Thompson deserved one ahead of McCarthy as well. A special mention for Donncha Walsh, another consistently good year for him, in my view well deserving of an all-star but alas he doesn't have the media profile of other candidates; hopefully a county final; medal on Sunday will make-up for his omission.
Surprising to see only 5 for Kerry and 3 each for beaten semi-finalists. Fairly sure if Dublin won the AI, they would have 7-9 All Stars. Poor selection to 3 Dubs honoured; these guys destroyed inferior division two/three teams and then when the crunch came they were nowhere to be seen against Donegal. PF and DC were excellent for the first 20 minutes of that game, but when the team needed them to deliver scores in the second half they failed. Connelly definitely deserved one he was excellent even in that second half. Flynn was not there when it mattered; he got a 'handy' one I feel. Unbelievably James Mccarthy gets an all-star despite their whole half-back line getting destroyed against Donegal. This is the award I have most issues with; I can't see any way he deserved one.
For me Aidan O'Mahony is the big looser, he is nine years older than Michael Murphy and completely nullified him in the biggest game of the year. He was fantastic all year for us and definitely deserved one ahead of McCarthy. Frank McGlynn & Thompson deserved one ahead of McCarthy as well. A special mention for Donncha Walsh, another consistently good year for him, in my view well deserving of an all-star but alas he doesn't have the media profile of other candidates; hopefully a county final; medal on Sunday will make-up for his omission.