Dublin dominate All-Stars

Leinster and All-Ireland SFC champions Dublin have been rewarded with six positions on the 2011 GAA GPA All-Stars Football team, which was announced at tonight's banquet event at the Convention Centre.

Fri, 21 Oct, 2011 - 20:51

Dublin's Brogan brothers had a night to remember in the capital as both Alan and Bernard were included in the All-Stars line-up and the former was crowned the Footballer of the Year.

Five counties are represented in the Opel-sponsored football selection, with Munster champions beaten All-Ireland finalists Kerry receiving four awards, Ulster champions Donegal have three and Kildare and Connacht champions Mayo have one each.

Alan Brogan was winning his first All-Star since 2007, while it was a second in-a-row for Bernard. Goalkeeper and point-scoring hero Stephen Cluxton was accepting his fourth All-Star - matching the number of awards won by Dublin's legendary net minder of the 1960s and 1970s, Paddy Cullen.

The other Dubs honoured were all first-time winners - left half-back Kevin Nolan, midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley and left half-forward Paul Flynn.

Donegal's defensive prowess has been acknowledged with awards for Neil McGee in the full-back line and both Kevin Cassidy and Karl Lacey in the half-backs. It is a quite a breakthrough for the Tir Chonaill considering that Lacey (2006 and 2009) has been their only All-Star in recent years.

Kildare defender Michael Foley, another maiden All-Star, follows in the footsteps of recent Lilywhite winners Dermot Earley, Peter Kelly and John Doyle. Mayo's Andy Moran has also deservedly made the cut at full-forward - their first All-Star since 2006.

Meanwhile, Kerry's four-man contingent is made up of corner back Marc Ó Sé, place-kicking midfielder Bryan Sheehan and forwards Darran O'Sullivan and Colm Cooper. Kerry's captain this year, Cooper now has seven All-Star awards to his name - 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Notably, it is the first time a Cork player has not made the All-Stars team since 2008. The Rebels are the current Allianz Football League Division 1 champions and 2008 also marks the last time the league winners were not represented in an All-Stars selection.

The team is as follows:

Goalkeeper:

1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)

Full backs:

2. Marc Ó Sé (Kerry)

3. Neil McGee (Donegal)

4. Michael Foley (Kildare)

Half backs:

5. Kevin Cassidy (Donegal)

6. Karl Lacey (Donegal)

7. Kevin Nolan (Dublin)

Midfield: