David Clarke earns All-Star accolade

Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke has picked up his first All-Star award, despite being dropped for the All-Ireland final replay.

The Ballina No 1’s omission for the second instalment against Jim Gavin’s Dublin came as a huge surprise. Rob Hennelly - between the sticks for the county’s opening two championship games - was returned to the starting team but struggled from the off and was black carded after committing an error for the Dublin penalty, converted by Diarmuid Connolly.

Clarke steadied the ship for the remainder of the game, just as he had done in the wake of the Galway defeat, and was rewarded by the All Star selection committee for that strong form across the summer. The 33-year old edged out Dublin’s Stephen Cluxton and Tipperary’s Evan Comerford.