Dunne misses out on Allstar hurling nomination

THOMAS DUNNE, Tipperary's inspirational captain over the last three seasons, is out of the running for a place on the 2002 Vodafone GAA Allstar hurling team.

However, the list of nominees which includes midfield partner Noel Morris and Dunne's brother Brendan (Benny) among a group of 15 named for the first time is likely to meet with fairly general acclaim.

Kilkenny have 11 of their All-Ireland winning team included, followed by Waterford with eight, and Clare and Tipperary with six each. Among the others Meath's Nicky Horan is a notable addition along with Brian McFall from Antrim.

In all, 10 counties are represented, the balance being made up by three each from Wexford, Limerick, Galway and Cork.

Apart from Thomas Dunne, an award winner in 1997, 1999 and last year, Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins also failed to make the list.

He was a member of the last two teams, becoming the first keeper in 12 years to be chosen in consecutive years. For the second year in a row, brothers Paul and Eoin Kelly are nominated. Eoin was chosen at left corner-forward on last year's team and was also honoured as 'Young Hurler of the Year' an accolade for which he is again in contention this time.

Namesake Eoin Kelly from Waterford is also included in a group of five, with Limerick's Peter Lawlor a member of the All-Ireland winning under-21 team the only one not to receive a nomination for an Allstar award.

The Kilkenny grouping features defender JJ Delaney and midfielder Derek Lyng, both of whom are first time nominees, along with goalkeeper James McGarry and the full-back trio of Michael Kavanagh, Noel Hickey and Philip Larkin. None of the latter group has won an award to date.

Conversely, DJ Carey is in line to equal the all-time record of nine Allstar awards held by Kerry footballer Pat Spillane since 1986. Carey equalled the previous record in hurling held by Kilkenny goalkeeper Noel Skehan when he won his seventh in 1997. Three years later he added another to set a new high.

Waterford's status as Munster champions for the first time in 39 years earns them their best representation of modern times. Significantly, perhaps, four of their forwards gained selection, Ken McGrath having been the county's sole nominee for each of the last two years. Among the others, Paul Flynn was one of four nominated in 1998 and prior to that in 1994.

Clare's Gerry Quinn and forward Tony Griffin are among the newcomers to the scheme, as is Cork forward Ben O'Connor.

Joe Deane and Wayne Sherlock are nominated from Cork.