I’ve gone for four Cork players, four from Down and seven from Leinster in my All-Star selection – but none from any of the provincial champions, writes Ciaran Whelan.
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I’ve always felt that giving the All-Ireland winners the majority of All-Stars didn’t do the awards justice because they’re a recognition of individual performance, not team performance. Over the years someone who won an All-Ireland and had a big final might have pipped someone who had a great year with a team who didn’t make it to the big day.
This year it’s going to be different, not just because Cork built their success more on a collective effort than loads of individual brilliance, but also because all four provincial final winners were knocked out on All-Ireland quarter-final weekend at the beginning of August. The awards this year are going to be dominated by the teams that have come through the back-door, and that’s the way I’ve gone. All 15 places on my All-Star team come from teams that came through the back-door rather than provincial champions, and that’s a bit of an indictment of the current provincial system, which appears to be dead on its feet.
Overall, I’ve picked four from Cork, four from Down, three each from Kildare and Dublin and one from Louth. All-Star choices are always going to generate debate, and I can honestly say it was very hard to leave someone like Benny Coulter off the team, but here it is.
Goalkeeper: Brendan McVeigh (Down)
I’m very surprised Stephen Cluxton hasn’t been nominated. He had a great year with Dublin, he’s the best goalkeeper in the country from kick-outs and he clipped a few scores from frees and 45s this year too, but obviously the five goals against Meath went against him. He would’ve been in my top three, but I’m giving the preference to Brendan McVeigh for the overall award. Any time he needed to pull off big saves he did it, against Kerry in the quarter-final and Cork in the final, so he deserves the award this year.
Right corner back: Peter Kelly (Kildare)
Kelly didn’t start the year in the team but he was very good when he came in after the Louth defeat. There were a lot of holes in Kieran McGeeney’s defence in that game but he went a long way towards plugging them and was the main man marker for Kildare for the rest of the summer.
Full back: Michael Shields (Cork)
He was the rock of the Cork defence all year and when going through an inconsistent patch at times, he held things together. He did a damage limitation job on Bernard Brogan in the All-Ireland semi-final and had a fine game on Benny Coulter in the final.
Left corner back: Rory O’Carroll (Dublin)
O’Carroll (pictured top) recovered after the Meath game to become Dublin’s main man marker and have a fine season. He got the job of tracking Steven McDonnell against Armagh, Sean Cavanagh and Stephen O’Neill against Tyrone, and did a good job against Cork’s inside forward line as well. He also captained Dublin to the U21 title as well.
Right half back: Emmet Bolton (Kildare)
He started the year in the full back line against Kildare when they had a bad opening day but he became one of Kildare’s leaders when he was moved out to the half back line, and his use of possession going forward was a key factor in the Lilywhites’ journey to the All-Ireland semi-final.
Centre half back: Kevin McKernan (Down)
Was left out of the team for the qualifier against Offaly but took his chance when it came round again and became a very important player for them, kicking some fantastic scores in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kildare and again in the final last week. He also managed to nullify Pearse O’Neill’s impact in the final, so his game wasn’t just all about attacking play.
Left half back: Paudie Kissane (Cork)
Probably had his quietest game in the All-Ireland final but he was fantastic for most of the year. Excellent in the league and kicked three massive points against Kerry in the first game in Munster. Faded a bit as the year went on but he had a fine season.
Midfield: Paddy Keenan (Louth) & Michael Dara McAuley (Dublin)
Kalum King did a great job for Down for most of the year, John Galvin was very good in Munster and Aidan Walsh could really go close – he mixed the good with the bad but he got better as the year went on and had a massive final. I’d have him as the front-runner for Young Footballer of the Year. My preference for the two midfield spots, though, is for Paddy Keenan and Michael Dara McAuley.
Keenan was a real leader for Louth. When he played well, Louth played well, and when you look back at the controversial Leinster final, when Louth were trying to hold out for the win he came out with the ball time and time again. He’s a good fielder, he’s great going forward and I think Louth deserve some recognition on the All-Star team this year.
Michael Dara McAuley was Dublin’s find of 2010. In the early rounds, when confidence was low he ploughed a lone furrow to keep them going. He maintained his form all year, you have to admire his work ethic and he also hand-passed a few scores along the way – I don’t think kicking is his real forte.
Right half forward: Daniel Hughes (Down)
The half forward line was probably the easiest line to pick. Hughes really was one of Down’s leaders and he was one of a handful of players in the country to be in contention for Footballer of the Year. With his work ethic he’s from the same school as Brian Dooher. He’s brilliant on breaking ball, works his socks off and can also take his scores when the opportunities arise.
Centre half forward: Marty Clarke (Down)
He was quiet enough whenever I saw him at the start of the year but as the season went on he just got better and better and really became the link-man which brought the whole Down forward line together. His kick passing was just superb, put in two great performances against Kerry and Kildare and scored 1-30 in total.
Left half forward: Johnny Doyle (Kildare)
I was amazed Johnny didn’t make the Sunday Game Team of the Year last week. He was fantastic for Kildare all year, kicked some fantastic scores and showed great mental strength when things were going against him, such as against Monaghan. He’s been Kildare’s talisman for a long time and he’s well deserving of a place in the All-Star team this year.
Right corner forward: Daniel Goulding (Cork)
The full forward line is where it usually gets difficult every year, because you can pick five or six inside forwards who’ve had great seasons. Goulding was the main Cork forward all year and he really delivered when they needed someone to step up to the plate in the All-Ireland final. He did the job, kicking nine points including three 45s.
Full forward: Bernard Brogan (Dublin)
An automatic choice. He was unmarkable in virtually every game and is probably going to be Footballer of the Year. The only man to come close to keeping him under wraps was John O’Brien from Louth but outside of that he destroyed everyone he played on and scored 3-42 in total in the championship.
Left corner forward: Donnacha O’Connor (Cork)
I know he spent some time on the bench this year but I really believe Cork wouldn’t have won the All-Ireland without O’Connor (pictured top). When the pressure was on against Dublin in the semi-final he was the man who stood up to the mark and kicked some vital scores, including the penalty, to get Cork over the line. Again in the final, he helped to bring Cork back into it before half-time and kicked some great scores in the second half.
What do you think of Ciaran Whelan’s selection? Have your say here.
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