Agreeing to differ on some close calls

I WONDER is this a new record for me? Every year there will be a few differences between my All Star hurling selection and those chosen by the official selection committee. But six? Can’t remember it ever being that wide of a gap before.

And yet, contradictory as this may sound, I’m less unhappy on this occasion than I normally would be. As noted in the prelude to my own selection, there were several areas where I was torn between different players, and that started in the goalkeeping position.

So, no quibble with PJ Ryan there, even though I went for Brendan Cummins – PJ’s All-Ireland final display swung the official vote.

Ollie Canning at right-corner-back is another difference, where I had Shane O’Neill. Ollie was a definite contender for the corner, albeit on the left, his Galway team-mate Fergal Moore very much in contention on the right, as was Michael Kavanagh.

So Ollie? I think most hurling people would accept that, though I must say I do have a problem with people being chosen out of position.

Thus, my first major argument, and my only major argument. Conor O’Mahony is a superb centre-back, but, due to illness in the early part of the season, was failing in that position, thus spent some time on the wing.

He was not the best centre-back this year, and by common consent that honour fell to Micheál ‘Brick’ Walsh of Waterford; definitely, though, Conor wasn’t the best left-half-back either, that was John Tennyson. So, I disagree here.

Midfield was my own selection and I don’t think anyone can argue with Alan McCrabbe, so influential from play and from placed balls in Dublin’s rise this year.

Inside, well, great to see this current Kilkenny crop continue to make history, with Henry’s ninth award taking him joint top with DJ and Pat Spillane.

I would quibble with Lar Corbett on the right wing – he doesn’t play there, though he did alternate with John O’Brien between full-forward and the left wing, and also played in the corner. Worth his place alright, Lar, but as an inside forward.

And here, the biggest variation of all from my own selection. I didn’t have any of the three named by the Vodafone selectors, but no matter – all three are worthy of the title ‘All-Star’, and I’m particularly delighted for John Mullane, whom I didn’t choose but who should have had this gong last year.

Noel McGrath – no complaint here either, the kid had a brilliant debut year.

As for big Joe, well, he was well marked on a couple of occasions this year, so on that basis I went for Tipp’s Eoin Kelly, who, as his health and fitness was improving after early-season injury, got better and better as the games got bigger.

Still, Joe Canning is a hurling genius, did almost enough on his own for Galway to win every time he went out. Overall, then, and despite our differences, a good team, a good selection.