Selection ticks boxes of justice and fairness

AS All Star selections go, the 2009 football model was relatively free of rancour and controversy. Perhaps that view is fuelled by our 13 out of 15 forecast yesterday morning, (and both player of the year awards), but trumpet-blowing aside, the side chosen largely ticks the boxes of justice and fairness.

Kerry’s total of seven awards comes after a season of fluctuating fortunes, yet it’s appropriate as the septuplet chosen were the instrumental figures in ensuring a June of misery morphed into a September of glory. Diarmuid Murphy for his brave penalty stop against Sligo down in Tralee, Tom O’Sullivan for nullifying several attacking hotshots, Seamus Scanlon for maintaining his fondness for graft and toil, Tadhg Kennelly for enhancing the accuracy of his point-kicking to devastating effect and Declan O’Sullivan for proving his great versatility.

There will be accusations in some quarters that Cork have over-achieved in claiming five accolades, but that school of thought conceals the fact that 70 minutes from the end of the season, they were the team of the year and their form up until September cannot be ignored.

Graham Canty and John Miskella had padlocked their places in the half-back line before the All-Ireland decider, Michael Shields and Daniel Goulding showcased leadership credentials over the season, and a storming Munster championship swung the bauble Pearse O’Neill’s way.

For the All-Ireland finalists to share out 80% of the awards is a staggeringly high percentage, but that’s no fault of either Munster force and more a reflection on the standards elsewhere. There’s more proof of the devalued currency of the provincial championships in that Mayo and Dublin, the Connacht and Leinster victors, both departed last night with no awards.

The trio selected outside of the final two are all worthy winners though. Karl Lacey’s return from the southern hemisphere was critical to Donegal progressing far into the championship, Dermot Earley towered above all midfielders over the course of the year and Stephen O’Neill left scoring imprints on every match he partook in. It’s also refreshing the 15 players were all picked in positions that they excelled in, and the practice of juggling around the award winners to accommodate certain individuals is ditched.

Any quibbles then? Of course there has to be. Tommy Griffin, Mike McCarthy and Tommy Walsh all weighed in heavily to Kerry’s pursuit of All-Ireland glory, but their runs of form occurred too late in the season. Ciarán Hyland, John Galvin and James Kavanagh shone brightly, but were outdone by heavyweights in the end. Yet if there was one player who could justifiably bemoan last night’s selection, it was Cork half-forward Patrick Kelly, whose ball-carrying and creative abilities were at the heart of Cork’s 2009 progress. Bernard Brogan cannot have been far off the number 15 shirt either.

No real arguments with who the Player of the Year garlands were bestowed upon though. Michael Murphy was just squeezed out of the full-forward line but his brilliance made him stand out amongst the young guns. That said, Aidan O’Shea made the transition from minor to senior look easy and Colm O’Neill thrived everywhere he went.

The main man was Paul Galvin though as he capped a quite phenomenal revival in the space of 12 months. A 2008 clouded by suspension, appeals and sideline viewings, gave way to a bright shining 2009 where he emerged as the heartbeat of Kerry’s season.