Cork, Galway lead hurling AllStar nominations

Five points separated them at the end of last month's All-Ireland hurling final, but there's nothing to split Cork and Galway in the 2005 Vodafone Hurling AllStar nominations, which were announced this evening.

Liam McCarthy Cup holders Cork and beaten finalists Galway have received 11 nominations each on the AllStar list of 45 players.

Of the Rebels, All-Ireland winning captain Sean Óg Ó hAilpín is hoping for his third straight AllStar, Erin's Own veteran Brian Corcoran, a previous winner at right corner-back, centre half-back and full forward, is gunning for his fourth AllStar since 1992, while 22-year-old defender Brian Murphy is in contention for his first.

The 2005 championship's top scorer Ger Farragher is one of 10 Galway men in line for their first AllStar awards. Pivotal Portumna full-back Ollie Canning, who made the recent Guinness Hurling Legends team, is the only Galway player listed to have scooped an AllStar previously (2001, 2003).

Long-standing Clare full-back Brian Lohan is also in the running for his fifth AllStar since 1995 after some headline-catching displays.

Eight of last year's AllStars - Damien Fitzhenry, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Tommy Walsh, Jerry O'Connor, Henry Shefflin, Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Ó hAilpín and Corcoran - are nominated again for awards.

A total of eight counties are represented in the list of nominees - Cork (11), Galway (11), Clare (seven), Kilkenny (five), Tipperary (four), Waterford (three), Wexford (three), and Limerick (one).

The final selection of 15 will be revealed live on RTÉ on Friday, November 25 from the Gala banquet at Dublin's City West Hotel.

2005 VODAFONE HURLING ALL-STAR NOMINATIONS LIST:

Goalkeepers - David Fitzgerald (Clare), Donal Og Cusack (Cork), Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford).

Defenders - Pat Mulcahy (Cork), Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cork), Brian Murphy (Cork), John Gardiner (Cork), Sean Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork), Ollie Canning (Galway), Derick Hardiman (Galway), David Collins (Galway), Tony Óg Regan (Galway), Richie Mullally (Kilkenny), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), Brian Lohan (Clare), Sean McMahon (Clare), Gerry Quinn (Clare), Diarmuid Fitzgerald (Tipperary), Peter Lawlor (Limerick), Tony Browne (Waterford), Darragh Ryan (Wexford).

Midfielders - Jerry O'Connor (Cork), Tom Kenny (Cork), David Tierney (Galway), Fergal Healy (Galway), Paul Kelly (Tipperary), Colin Lynch (Clare).

Forwards - Ben O'Connor (Cork), Brian Corcoran (Cork), Joe Deane (Cork), Ger Farragher (Galway), Damien Hayes (Galway), Alan Kerins (Galway), Niall Healy (Galway), David Forde (Galway), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Micheal Webster (Tipperary), Eoin Kelly (Waterford), Seamus Prendergast (Waterford), Des Mythen (Wexford), Diarmuid McMahon (Clare), Tony Carmody (Clare).