All-Stars 2008

[Stall the Bailer]

Tyrone win seven All Stars awards 

Sean Cavanagh will pick up his fourth All Star on Friday night
All-Ireland champions Tyrone lead the Vodafone Football All Stars honours for 2008 with seven awards.

Defenders Conor Gormley, Justin McMahon, Davy Harte and Philip Jordan are all honoured but their team-mate Ryan McMenamin misses out.

Midfielder Enda McGinley and forwards Brian Dooher and Sean Cavanagh are also honoured as is Armagh's Ronan Clarke.

In addition to McMenamin, notable omissions include Mattie Forde, Martin McGrath and Michael Meehan.

McMenamin's chances were reduced when he was nominated as a half-back, as opposed to his more regular full-back role.

As it happens, Westmeath's John Keane claimed the left corner-back jersey while McMenamin's two Tyrone team-mates Jordan and Harte and Kerry's Tomas O Se make up the half-back line.

Shane Ryan edges out Martin McGrath for a midfield slot and Fermanagh may feel a little sore after missing out on an award.

Forde had a superb year for Wexford, as they reached the All-Ireland semi-finals but Colm Cooper, Kieran Donaghy and Ronan Clarke get the full-forward awards.

Overall, Wexford will surely feel hard done by after being ignored despite their splendid season.

Ciaran Lyng and Redmond Barry appeared to be Wexford's other main contenders.

Westmeath did run Tyrone very close in Omagh but they look to have over-achieved with Gary Connaughton joining corner-back Keane in the selection.

Of the Tyrone winners, Cavanagh is winning his fourth award - one more than both Gormley and Dooher.

Cavanagh, Dooher and Colm Cooper are the contenders for the overall Footballer of the Year award which will be announced at Friday's banquet in Dublin.

Justin McMahon, Harte, Jordan and McGinley will all pick up their first All Star.

Armagh forward Clarke wins his second award.

Interestingly, only 2 of the 15 all stars won provincial medals with Cork and Galway not represented in the selection.



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All Stars Football team: G Connaughton (Westmeath), C Gormley (Tyrone), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), J Keane (Westmeath), D Harte (Tyrone), T O Se (Kerry), P Jordan (Tyrone), E McGinley (Tyrone), S Ryan (Dublin), B Dooher (Tyrone), Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry), S Cavanagh (Tyrone), C Cooper (Kerry), K Donaghy (Kerry), R Clarke (Armagh).

From the BBC

[imtommygunn]

It's fair enough really...

[orangeman]

Shane Ryan might be a wee bit controversial ??

[Rossie11]

Dubs had to get one.  Its fair enough in my view.

[Goats Do Shave]

It's fair to me. Thought Ryan was superb for the Dubs, even against Tyrone he was the Dubs only player!

Delighted for Ronan Clarke too.

[give her dixie]

Did Philip Jordan get an All Star in '05? It says he is winning his 1st...
Fair enough selection, although a pity Ricey didn't get one as he had a good season.
Well done to the 15 winners.

[orangeman]

Sean Cavanagh will pick up his fourth All Star on Friday night
All-Ireland champions Tyrone lead the Vodafone Football All Stars honours for 2008 with seven awards.



4 All Stars is some going -  some player.

[orangeman]

Dublin 1 All Star - Westmeath 2  - goalie got 3/4 put past him in Leinster final

[Doohicky]

Wexford in teh AI Semi final and get zero allstars...

[Maximus Marillius]

Wexford in teh AI Semi final and get zero allstars...

completely agree...typical all star crap. like when was the last time Wexford got to an AII Lreand semi final. What a F U

[Norf Tyrone]

Wexford's ommision is a disgrace.

Sean Cavanagh is a legend, and it'll be interesting to see how many all-stars he has when he hangs up the boots.

You would've got a quer price on Justy getting an all-star before Joe a few years back. Both should've got one the year.

Delighted for Enda and to a lesser degree Davy Harte. McGinley to me was Tyrone's best player in 05, and again this season.

[Canalman]

Orangeman getting your "Free State" geography mixed up there. Westmeath is not Wexford...... who were in the Leinster final.

Anyway, Congrats to all recipients and in particular to our own Shane Ryan.

[imtommygunn]

They really denied Redmond Barry by nominating Cavanagh in the HF line. Cavanagh should have been FF, Donaghy out of there and Barry in there.

Based on the nominations though that is a fair reflection. John Keane gave as good a CB display as you'll see against Dublin and I'm sure was more than competent in his other outings too.

[heineken_on_tap]

I struggle to see why Donaghy should have got one, as said Sean should have had full forward and Barry a half forward award.

Very true

[Final Whistle]

congrats to all concerned. sean has his fourth, how many did spillane get?
Could a tyrone man surpass his total? at 25 he could get another 4/5 if he stays injury free!