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.