Allstar selectors swing into action

THE first stage in the selection of the 2002 Vodafone GAA Allstars will be taken in Dublin today when the panel of national journalists meet to decide on the nominations.

This will involve selection of 45 players for both the hurling and football teams, based on the general principle of three players per position.

The list of nominees will be published over the next two days, with the All Star football team to be chosen on Wednesday, November 27, and announced the following day. The hurling Allstars will be revealed live on television at the presentation banquet in the Citywest Hotel two nights later.

There has been intense speculation over the last month on the football team in particular, following some outstanding individual performances in the championship, with the likes of Kerry starlet Colm Cooper, Dublin's Ray Cosgrove and Armagh's Ronan Clarke all establishing impressive credentials for selection. Add in the names of Kerry's Mike Frank Russell, Cork captain Colin Corkery, Tipperary star Declan Browne, Galway's Padraig Joyce and Donegal's Adrian Sweeney and it's clear that there will be a lot of disappointed players when the final three for the full-forward line are revealed.

Going on the traditional practice of the All-Ireland winners gaining the lion's share, it's fairly predictable that football champions Armagh will gain their biggest ever representation. In the 31-year history of the scheme, they have gained just 11 awards, shared among eight players. They include team captain Kieran McGeeney, a winner in 1999 and 2000 and manager Joe Kernan, chosen in 1977 and 1982. Paddy Moriarty was the county's first winner, in the second year of the scheme in 1972 at left corner-forward, and he won a second in 1977 at centre-back. Captain Jimmy Smyth was also an award-winner that year.

In hurling, particular attention will be focused on the like of goalkeeper James McGarry and corner-backs Michael Kavanagh and Philip Larkin, all three of whom have yet to win an award. On the other side of the coin, D.J. Carey won a record eighth award for a hurler in 2000, but didn't figure on last year's team.

Pat Spillane holds the individual record in football with nine awards, the last won in 1986.