Kennelly completes fairytale comeback

TADHG KENNELLY last night added another chapter to his fairytale sporting life by being named on the GAA Vodafone All Star football team at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin last night.

Kennelly, who spent nine years in the AFL with the Sydney Swans, quit the professional sport to return home and played a key role in Kerry’s All-Ireland success over Cork last month.

And, it was ironic that a team featuring seven Kerry and five Cork players also comprised Kildare midfielder Dermot Earley, whose father Dermot (the Army Chief of Staff) won an All Star in the company of the late Tim Kennelly in 1979.

And, it was an extra special night for Kerry forward Pat Galvin, who last year experienced the lowest point in his playing career after incurring a lengthy suspension and missing out on the chance of captaining the Kingdom in the All-Ireland final.

Not only did he win a third All Star — again at right half-forward — but he gained the accolade of ‘Footballer of the Year’, beating off the challenge of teammate Tomás Ó Sé and Cork captain Graham Canty.

Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh — significantly an award-winner for the seventh consecutive year — was named as Hurler of the Year.

Ó Se had the consolation of picking up his fifth award and, with Declan O’Sullivan (gaining his third), sharing the distinction of being the only members of the 2008 All Stars team to be chosen.

Canty was honoured for the second time, having previously been picked two years ago.

The remaining places were filled by Donegal defender Karl Lacey and star forward Stephen O’Neill from Tyrone.

Another member of the All-Ireland champions’ team, Tom O’Sullivan, was one of four players to receive a second award.

After going through some difficult times last season as a stop-gap full-back, the Rathmore man had a marvellous campaign, highlighted by an outstanding display against Bernard Brogan in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Just like in hurling, six players were chosen for the first time — Kennelly being joined by Kerry team-mate Seamus Scanlon, while the other four first timers were Cork players — Michael Shields, John Miskella, Pearse O’Neill and Daniel Goulding.

Kennelly’s selection means that five father-and-son combinations have now gained awards (compared to just one in hurling, Fan Larkin and Philly Larkin from Kilkenny). The others were Pat and Paddy Reynolds (Meath – 1971 and 1996), Liam O’Neill (with Galway in 1973) and Kevin O’Neill (with Mayo in 1993), Dermot Earley senior (1974 and ‘79) and Dermot Earley junior (1998), Frank and Brian McGuigan (Tyrone — 1984 and 2003).

The award for Young Footballer of the year went to Donegal forward Michael Murphy, who finished just one point short of the year’s top scorer Colm Cooper.

The presentation of the hurling awards was noteworthy for the fact of Henry Shefflin creating history by being the first player in the history of the scheme to win eight in a row – and his ninth in total (equalling the joint record held by DJ Carey and Pat Spillane). With five counties making up the team, Tipperary’s Padraig Maher, Lar Corbett and Noel McGrath were among the group of first-time winners — the others being Kilkenny’s PJ Ryan and Michael Rice — chosen alongside Dublin’s Alan McCrabbe at midfield.

Ryan is only the third goalkeeper from Kilkenny to gain recognition, with Noel Skehan having been picked on seven teams between 1972 and 1983, and Michael Walsh (son of Ollie) picking up awards in 1991 and 1993.

Noel McGrath was also named as the Young Hurler of the year.

McCrabbe is the third Dublin player to receive a hurling All Star, with Mick Bermingham a member of the inaugural team in 1971 and Brian McMahon chosen in 1990.

And, for the first time since 2005 (when Cork twins Ben and Jerry O’Connor were honoured), the team included two brothers, Ollie and Joe Canning, who picked up their fourth and second awards, respectively.