Cork sweeps board at All Stars

All-Ireland champions Cork swept the board at last night's Vodafone All Star awards, capping their All-Ireland final win in September with seven awards.

Wexford's Damien Fitzhenry scooped the award for between the posts, edging out his Kilkenny counterpart James McGarry, who has failed to pick up an award, despite being nominated each year for the last six.

Cork's Wayne Sherlock and Diarmuid O'Sullivan were joined in the full-back line by Kilkenny's Tommy Walsh, who won last year at midfield.

The half-back line is the same as last year, with Cork's Ronan Curran and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín picking up awards, along with Kilkenny's JJ Delaney.

The selectors got over a dilemma by picking Waterford's Ken McGrath, who played this year in the half-backs, in midfield, where he is partnered by Cork's Jerry O'Connor, a first-time winner.

In the half-forward line, Waterford goal-poacher Dan Shanahan is joined by four-time winner Henry Shefflin of Kilkenny and Cork's Niall McCarthy.

Waterford's Paul Flynn has ended a 10-year wait for his award at corner-forward, having being nominated five times. Comeback king Brian Corcoran of Cork takes the full-forward award, adding to his previous awards at corner- and centre-back. Tipperary sharp-shooter Eoin Kelly completes the line-up.

League champions Galway and Leinster champions Wexford seem to have paid the price for ending their championship campaigns on a down note. No Tribesman was included and Fitzhenry was Wexford's only All Star, despite the Slaneysiders breaking Kilkenny's six-year grip on the Leinster title.

Cork skipper Ben O'Connor could also feel aggrieved at being overlooked, having led his club and county to All-Ireland honours this year.

2004 Vodafone Allstar team: D Fitzhenry (Wexford); W Sherlock (Cork), D O'Sullivan (Cork), T Walsh (Kilkenny); JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), R Curran (Cork), Seán Óg Ó hAilpínn (Cork); K McGrath (Waterford), J O’Connor (Cork); D Shanahan (Waterford), N McCarthy (Cork), H Shefflin (Kilkenny); E Kelly (Tipperary), B Corcoran (Cork), P Flynn (Waterford).