Gooch happy to be in exalted All Star company

It’s a debate that may be had in a Kerry pub or two over the long winter ahead — who would be the better player, Pat Spillane or Colm Cooper?

Spillane tips the balance in All-Ireland terms with eight medals, double that of Cooper who, at 30, is highly unlikely to make up that ground.

All Star awards, which reflect individual excellence, are a different matter, however, and, since the weekend, Cooper has closed in to within one of Spillane’s record haul of nine.