Cats dominance extends to All Stars list

[Ash Smoker]

Cats dominance extends to All Stars list

Kilkenny's all-conquering three in a row hurling team dominate this year's Vodafone-sponsored GAA All Stars list, with a stunning 14 nominations.

Henry Shefflin is chasing his eighth award, which would bring him to within one off his county-man DJ Carey's record haul of nine awards.

In all, eight counties are represented in the nominations, with League and Munster champions Tipperary enjoying the second highest number of nominees with nine.

Cork are rewarded for their nail-biting jousts with Clare, Galway, Tipperary and Kilkenny with seven nominations, while beaten All-Ireland finalists Waterford and Clare have five nominations each.

Offaly and Dublin both received two nominations, with Galway getting just one nominee in the form of Joe Canning.

Another milestone this year is the nomination of Richie Power for what would be his first award.

He will be hoping to join an elite club of one in terms of fathers and sons who have claimed hurling awards - the only combination so far to achieve this amazing double is fellow Kilkenny duo Fan and Philly Larkin.

Seven of last year's winners are nominated again. They are Michael Kavanagh, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, Tony Browne, James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, Henry Shefflin and Eddie Brennan.

The awards will take place in the CityWest Hotel on 17 October.

The county breakdown is: Kilkenny 14, Tipperary 9, Cork 7, Clare 5, Waterford 5, Offaly 2, Dublin 2 and Galway 1.


The GAA Hurling All Stars nominees for 2008 are:

Goalkeeper
Brendan Cummins (Tipperary) AS 00, 01, 03
Clinton Hennessy (Waterford)
PJ Ryan (Kilkenny)

Full Backs
Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny) AS 02, 03, 07
Noel Hickey (Kilkenny) AS 00, 03
Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny) AS 07
Paul Curran (Tipperary)
Conor O'Brien (Tipperary)
Shane O'Neill (Cork)
Brian Murphy (Cork) AS 06
Gerry O'Grady (Clare)
David Franks (Offaly)

Half Backs
Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) AS 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
JJ Delaney (Kilkenny) AS 03, 04, 06
Brian Hogan (Kilkenny)
Tony Browne (Waterford) AS 98, 06, 07
Conor O'Mahony (Tipperary)
Shane Maher (Tipperary)
John Gardiner (Cork) AS 05
Sean Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork) AS 03, 04, 05
Ronan Fallon (Dublin)

Midfield
James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny) AS 06, 07
Derek Lyng (Kilkenny) AS 02, 03
Shane McGrath (Tipperary)
Tom Kenny (Cork)
Brian O'Connell (Clare)
Colin Lynch (Clare) AS 97, 02

Half Forwards
Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny)
Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) AS 00, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
Richie Power (Kilkenny)
Ben O'Connor (Cork) AS 05
Cathal Naughton (Cork)
Seamus Callinan (Tipperary)
Lar Corbett (Tipperary)
Jonathan Clancy (Clare)
Brian Carroll (Offaly)

Full Forwards
Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny) AS 03, 06, 07
Aidan Fogarty (Kilkenny)
John Mullane (Waterford) AS 03
Eoin McGrath (Waterford)
Eoin Kelly (Waterford) AS 02
Joe Canning (Galway)
Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) AS 01, 02, 04, 05, 06
Niall Gilligan (Clare) AS 99
David O'Callaghan (Dublin)

[Minder]

So looks like Comerford is the one to miss out on a nomination from Kilkenny?  O Hailpin seems to there on reputation alone.

[Canalman]

Nice to see 2 Dubs nominated. No chance of our 3d allstar this year though.

[nobackdoor]

Goalkeeper
Brendan Cummins (Tipperary) AS 00, 01, 03
Clinton Hennessy (Waterford)
PJ Ryan (Kilkenny)
Full Backs
Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny) AS 02, 03, 07
Noel Hickey (Kilkenny) AS 00, 03
Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny) AS 07
Paul Curran (Tipperary)
Conor O'Brien (Tipperary)
Shane O'Neill (Cork)
Brian Murphy (Cork) AS 06
Gerry O'Grady (Clare)
David Franks (Offaly)

Half Backs
Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) AS 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
JJ Delaney (Kilkenny) AS 03, 04, 06
Brian Hogan (Kilkenny)
Tony Browne (Waterford) AS 98, 06, 07
Conor O'Mahony (Tipperary)
Shane Maher (Tipperary)
John Gardiner (Cork) AS 05
Sean Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork) AS 03, 04, 05
Ronan Fallon (Dublin)

Midfield
James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny) AS 06, 07
Derek Lyng (Kilkenny) AS 02, 03
Shane McGrath (Tipperary)
Tom Kenny (Cork)
Brian O'Connell (Clare)
Colin Lynch (Clare) AS 97, 02

Half Forwards
Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny)
Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) AS 00, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
Richie Power (Kilkenny)
Ben O'Connor (Cork) AS 05
Cathal Naughton (Cork)
Seamus Callinan (Tipperary)
Lar Corbett (Tipperary)
Jonathan Clancy (Clare)
Brian Carroll (Offaly)

Full Forwards
Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny) AS 03, 06, 07
Aidan Fogarty (Kilkenny)
John Mullane (Waterford) AS 03
Eoin McGrath (Waterford)
Eoin Kelly (Waterford) AS 02
Joe Canning (Galway)
Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) AS 01, 02, 04, 05, 06
Niall Gilligan (Clare) AS 99
David O'Callaghan (Dublin)

Guys that were unlucky not to get on the team were Tommy Walsh, Colin Lynch and Shane McGrath, Aidan Fogarty and Eoin Kelly. Brian Hogan plays out of position, but could not be left out of the team.

[imtommygunn]

Looking at that I'd say Ben O'Connor is now a cert as Richie Power won't get one.

Also I suspect Joe Canning and Eoin Kelly will get the one beside Brennan in the FF line.

I don't see any way Tommy Walsh won't get one. Think Hogan will lose out to O'Mahoney.

Not sure the KK goalie will get one either.

[nobackdoor]

KK goalies very often miss out on the ALL Stars, might have something to do with the lack of action they encounter. I think Mullane has been Waterfords one consistent performer, particularly when u consider the Clare debacle. Brian Hogan has been immense this season and if anyone loses out for Walsh, it'll be O'Mahoney, who has also had an outstanding season.

[youngfella]

No award for tommy walsh are ye mad!? did you watch the final. For my two cents worth eoin kelly (Wat) should get one for his consantant scoring this year He scored something like 74 points in total, unreal. Looking at the kepper line up PJ should also be a cert.

[Canalman]

My Allstars,

1 PJ Ryan KK
2 Kavanagh KK
3 Curran TIPP
4 Tyrrell KK
5 Walsh KK
6 O'Mahony TIPP
7 Delaney KK
8 McGrath TIPP
9 Fitzpatrick KK
10 Larkin KK
11 Shefflin KK
12 O' Connor CK
13 Brennan KK
14 Mullane WD
15 Kelly WD

O'Connor imo is lucky imo that Canning cannot be slipped into the half forward line.

9 Kilkenny, 3 Tipperary,2 Waterford, 1 Cork.

[nobackdoor]

Can't have O'Connor on the team. Very average in the 2 games that counted Tipp & the Cats.

[Two Hands FFS]

Richie Power was very lucky to get an nomination. Poor semi final, decent final. He migt even have missed out in some of the Leinster c'ship matches. Maybe Clancy from Clare was lucky to get one as well...but apart from that pretty spot on.

Kilkenny will get 10 at least. As good as Hickey was, he only played two matches all year..is that enough?? Waterford get to final & will be lucky to get 1/2 maximum. Normally beaten finalists get 3 or 4. Their poor performances against Clare & Kilkenny will count against them.

[youngfella]

henry only played two games worth talking about, is that enough?

[AZOffaly]

I'm glad David Franks and Brian Carroll got one each. Franks was exceptional this year for us, and Carroll was very reliable.

They'll not get near an All Star but I'm happy they were recognised.

[Reillers]

If KK's keeper gets that all star then it'll be a joke. Grant it he's a lot of clean sheets, but he's had NOTHING to do.
Henry shouldn't get one either, either should Hickey or Power.

As for Ben, he was fantastic in nearly every game. Kept Cork in it. If any Cork player should get one it should be him. A lot could be said to describe Ben's season but average is definetly not one of them.

Shane O Neill, young Naughton, Brian Murphy, might not get the All Stars but delighted with their seasons. Great, promising preformances from them. Especially delighted with Shane O Neill
.

[EddieMerx]

If KK's keeper gets that all star then it'll be a joke. Grant it he's a lot of clean sheets, but he's had NOTHING to do.
Henry shouldn't get one either, either should Hickey or Power.

As for Ben, he was fantastic in nearly every game. Kept Cork in it. If any Cork player should get one it should be him. A lot could be said to describe Ben's season but average is definetly not one of them.

Shane O Neill, young Naughton, Brian Murphy, might not get the All Stars but delighted with their seasons. Great, promising preformances from them. Especially delighted with Shane O Neill
.

There has been no stand out keeper this year so I would give it to the guy who has kept his full back line on top on all year

[Reillers]

He's not been tested at all, the backs do their jobs themselves. It would have made no difference if he had slept on the post for the entire season. It'll be a joke if he gets it.