Big three to dominate hurling legends team

CLARE, Kilkenny and Cork are expected to command the biggest representation on the Guinness 'Hurling Legends' team which is to be announced tonight.

Over the last two months fans have had the opportunity to vote for their favourite players through a variety of means and, to the sponsors' delight, over 13,000 people responded.

"There's been a massive response," says Maire Scully of Wilson Hartnell Public Relations, the firm which handles the Guinness account. "We were initially looking at a figure of about 5,000, but according as the championship went on the votes starting coming in on the days immediately following the games. And there was a late surge in the 24 hours following the All-Ireland final.''

Choices were made from a list of 75 names compiled by a panel of national journalists and the final 15 will be revealed in a live telecast hosted by Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh from the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin from 8pm to 9.30. Leading intercounty managers will be on hand to assist in the actual presentation ceremony.

"TG4 are delighted to be in a position to broadcast the awards ceremony," says station Sports Editor Rónán Ó'Coisdeabhla. "We have a great reputation for first-class sports programming and to be involved with an event like this is another first for us. It's a unique event, never to be repeated, and I am sure will be of huge interest to GAA fans all around the country."

Based on voting patterns, it seems that DJ Carey is one of the certainties to be included, having gained 78% support in the early stages. Former Kilkenny captain Willie O'Connor and current star Henry Shefflin are also in the running, while Brian Lohan, James O'Connor and Colin Lynch are expected to fly the Banner flag.

Tipperary captain Thomas Dunne was another to figure prominently in the early voting, while team-mate Brendan Cummins' main rival for the goalkeeping position would appear to be Damien Fitzhenry. However, it's understood that support for Davy Fitzgerald increased after Clare's All-Ireland semi-final appearance.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, inspirational in Cork's second consecutive All-Ireland triumph, is one of the players in line for a place in the half-back line; another winning captain, Martin Storey also polled well in the early stages, as did Galway legend Joe Cooney.

The nominees for the different positions were decided on the basis of their involvement in the championship over the period of the Guinness sponsorship, starting in 1995.