Matching twinset for O’Connors

FOR the first time in the 35-year history of the scheme, twin brothers have been named in an Allstar team.

Thu, 24 Nov, 2005 - 00:00

Jim O’Sullivan

Cork’s Ben O’Connor gained his first Vodafone hurling award at right half-forward, joining his twin brother Jerry, who was named for the second consecutive year at midfield.

Their Newtown-shandrum club colleague Pat Mulcahy was also chosen for the first time, a distinction shared by John Gardiner (at centre-back) and the Galway trio of Derek Hardiman, Damien Hayes and Ger Farragher.

Kilkenny ace Henry Shefflin was selected for the fifth time.

His Cats’ colleague Tommy Walsh’s choice is noteworthy for the reason that he has been chosen in three different positions - left corner-back last year, midfield in 2003 and now left half-forward.

This is another first.

Previously, Offaly star Brian Whelahan picked up three awards in defence (1992, 1995 and 1999) and in 1998 he was picked at full-forward.

Shefflin joins an elite group of nine players who have won five awards - superseded only by DJ Carey’s total of nine, seven for Noel Skehan and six each for Nicky English and Joe McKenna.

As expected, All-Ireland champions Cork take the lion’s share with six, one less than last year.

However, Wayne Sherlock, Ronan Curran, Niall McCarthy and Brian Corcoran miss out this year.

Privately, the management would have had high hopes for Donal Óg Cusack and Corcoran gaining selection, as well as Brian Murphy.

With Ollie Canning preferred to Murphy at left corner-back, Galway’s representation of four is the largest since they lost to Tipp in the 2001 final.

Tipperary - like Kilkenny - also had two players chosen - brothers Eoin and Paul Kelly, who received their fourth and second awards respectively. They were also chosen in 2002, when Paul was honoured at left half-back.

Cork full-back Diarmuid O’Sullivan, first chosen in 1999, was the only other to be selected for the fourth time.

Davy Fitzgerald, Clare’s sole representative, was picked for the third time, an honour similarly accorded Cork’s inspirational captain Sean Óg Ó hAilpín.

Fitzgerald gained his first award 10 years ago and was picked for the second time in 2002.

Six of the players chosen yesterday by a panel of national journalists featured on the 2004 Allstars team - O’Sullivan, Ó hAilpín, Jerry O’Connor, Tommy Walsh, Eoin Kelly and Shefflin.

Ben O’Connor had previously been nominated four times since 1999.

Their joint selection brings the total number of brothers who have awards since 1971 to 16.

* The awards will be presented at a banquet in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin tomorrow night, when the 2005 Vodafone Allstar footballers will also be announced - along with Young Player and Player of the Year winners in both codes.

2005 VODAFONE GAA ALL-STAR HURLING TEAM:

Goalkeeper - Davy Fitzgerald (Clare)

Right Corner Back - Pat Mulcahy (Cork)

Full-Back - Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cork)

Left Corner Back - Ollie Canning (Galway)

Right Half-Back - Derek Hardiman (Galway)

Centre Half-Back - John Gardiner (Cork)

Left Half-Back - Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork)

Midfield - Jerry O'Connor (Cork)

Midfield - Paul Kelly (Tipperary)

Right Half-Forward - Ben O'Connor (Cork)

Centre Half-Forward - Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)