Kerry, understandably, having won their 37th All-Ireland football title, lead the way with 11 of the 45 All Star nominations, released today by a committee of esteemed GAA journalists.
Donegal defender Neil McGee, Dublin's Diarmuid Connolly and Kerry forward James O'Donoghue are vying for footballer of the year. The young player of the year nominations are Shane Walsh (Galway), Paddy McBrearty and Ryan McHugh (both Donegal).
Now comes a prolonged debate that must conclude before October 15th.
Whittling down three goalkeepers to the chosen number one should take up plenty of the judges' time. Despite impressive seasons from Dublin's Stephen Cluxton and Monaghan's Rory Beggan, Paul "Papa" Durcan seemed a certainty to win a second All Star before gifting Kieran Donaghy a clear sight of goal in the All-Ireland final.
Donaghy converted spectacularly and considering his excellence in the two Mayo semi-finals, the former footballer of the year may have earned a third All Star. Previous recognition for the Tralee basketballer came in 2006 - still his signature championship – and again in 2008.
Highest peak
When the Kingdom last scaled Gaelic football’s highest peak, in 2009, they received seven All Stars, none of whom are nominated five years later.
Should Durcan’s gaffe deny him the award then Cluxton could lay claim to an astonishing sixth All Star.
There won’t be another footballer on the list with as many. Colm Cooper (eight) and Seán Cavanagh (five) have not be included this year due to the former’s cruciate knee injury and Tyrone’s early exit from the championship.
That victory and pushing Donegal so close in the All-Ireland quarter-final sees Armagh rewarded with two nominations for Andy Mallon and Tony Kernan. Both Dublin and Donegal are in Kerry’s immediate slipstream with nine players recognised.
Along with Durcan, the Magee brothers – Eamonn and Neil – and Frankie McGlynn are strong candidates for three of the defensive berths. Eamonn McGee has never won the individual prize but Neil already picked up two from 2011 and 2012.
Kerry defenders – like All-Ireland final man of the match Paul Murphy and Peter Crowley – will also prove difficult to ignore, as will Dublin’s James McCarthy.
Players unlucky to be overlooked for an All Star in 2013 but nominated again include Monaghan wing back Dessie Mone and Connolly. Last year Connolly lost out to a half forward line of Cavanagh, Cooper and Paul Flynn (surprisingly overlooked for the 2014 footballer of the year short list).
Another difficulty will be finding a consensus on two midfielders from Kerry pair David Moran and Anthony Maher, Donegal duo Neil Gallagher and Odhran MacNiallais, last year’s footballer of the year Michael Darragh Macauley and Seamus O’Shea.
Miss out
O’Shea’s brother Aidan, who partnered Macauley in last season’s midfield, is among the nine half forwards released yesterday. Somebody with a brilliant campaign under their belt is going to miss out here. It would beggar belief to look past Flynn or Connolly while Donegal captain Michael Murphy was unplayable at times this summer. Then there is Ryan McHugh, Derry’s superbly gifted Mark Lynch and Walsh. Not to mention Kerry’s Donnchadh Walsh and Johnny Buckley.
Naming McHugh as young footballer of the year may soften the blow of his exclusion. Same goes for Walsh.
In the full forward line, James O'Donoghue's outstanding 4-24, despite being held scoreless in the All-Ireland final, makes him a certainty. Mayo's Cillian O'Connor finished on 5-36 and the highest average per game of 8.5 points.
GOALKEEPERS: Paul Durcan (Donegal), Rory Beggan (Monaghan), Stephen Cluxton (Dublin).
FULL BACKS: Paul Murphy (Kerry), Fionn Fitzgerald (Kerry), Eamonn McGee (Donegal), Neil McGee (Donegal), Philip McMahon (Dublin), Rory O'Carroll (Dublin), Keith Higgins (Mayo), Andy Mallon (Armagh), Drew Wylie (Monaghan).
HALF-BACKS: Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry), Peter Crowley (Kerry), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Lee Keegan (Mayo), James McCarthy (Dublin), Johnny Cooper (Dublin), Frank McGlynn (Donegal), Dessie Mone (Monaghan), Colin O'Riordan (Tipperary).
MIDFIELD: David Moran (Kerry), Anthony Maher (Kerry), Neil Gallagher (Donegal), Odhran MacNiallais (Donegal), Michael Darragh Macauley (Dublin), Seamus O'Shea (Mayo).
HALF-FORWARDS: Johnny Buckley (Kerry), Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Shane Walsh (Galway), Mark Lynch (Derry), Aidan O'Shea (Mayo).
FULL FORWARD: Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), James O'Donoghue (Kerry, right), Paul Geaney (Kerry), Cillian O'Connor (Mayo), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Brian Hurley (Cork), Kevin McManamon (Dublin), Tony Kernan (Armagh), Patrick McBrearty (Donegal).
