Tyrone top all-star nominations list
Eleven players from Tyrone's All-Ireland SFC winning panel have been included in the 2005 Vodafone GAA All-Star nominations list, which was announced today.
Wednesday, November 23 is the date that this year's All-Star team will be selected from a list totalling 45 players. The All-Star Gala banquet will take place two days later at Dublin's City West hotel.
The hurling nominations will be announced tomorrow with the winners named live at the televised banquet on Friday, November 25.
Tyrone's only winner of a 2004 football All-Star was current Brisbane Lions target Sean Cavanagh, but twelve months on, the Red Hands look set for a bountiful haul.
Legendary forward Peter Canavan, who retired from the inter-county scene last month, is gunning for his sixth All-Star award with Owen Mulligan, Ryan McMenamin and captain Brian Dooher amongst Tyrone's other nominees.
Canavan's last All-Star came in 2003 when Tyrone, winners of the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time that year, claimed 14 nominations.
The 2005 list is completed by All-Ireland finalists Kerry (8), Ulster champions Armagh (8), Leinster champions Dublin (6). Cork (3), Laois (3), Galway (2) and Derry (2), while Monaghan forward Thomas Freeman and Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly both received a nomination on their county's behalf.
Derry attacker Paddy Bradley, who was controversially left out of the Ireland International Rules squad, is in contention for his first All-Star award.
Ahead of their departure for Australia this weekend, seventeen of Pete McGrath's 27-man Irish squad have received nominations.
2005 VODAFONE GAA FOOTBALL ALL-STAR NOMINATIONS:
Goalkeeper - Paul Hearty (Armagh), Diarmuid Murphy (Kerry), James Reilly (Cavan).
Defenders - Ryan McMenamin, Philip Jordan, Conor Gormley, Joe McMahon (all Tyrone), Andy Mallon, Aaron Kernan, Kieran McGeeney, Francie Bellew (Armagh), Michael McCarthy, Tomas O Se, Marc O Se, Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry), Anthony Lynch, Graham Canty (Cork), Aiden Fennelly (Laois), Stephen O'Shaughnessy, Paul Griffin (Dublin), Kevin McCloy (Derry).
Midfield - Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Paul McGrane (Armagh), Noel Garvan (Laois), Ciaran Whelan (Dublin), Darragh O Se (Kerry), Nicholas Murphy (Cork).
Forwards - Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan, Owen Mulligan, Peter Canavan, Stephen O'Neill, Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Stephen McDonnell, Ronan Clarke (Armagh), Eoin Brosnan, Colm Cooper (Kerry), Alan Brogan, Bryan Cullen, Tomas Quinn (Dublin), Michael Meehan, Padraic Joyce (Galway), Ross Munnelly (Laois), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Thomas Freeman (Monaghan).
