Shefflin and O’Shea top GAA poll

Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin and Jack O’Shea were honoured as the best hurler and footballer respectively of the last 25 years in a prestigious ceremony today.

To celebrate GAA's 125th anniversary, TG4 previously asked viewers and sports fans and viewers to vote for their favourite Hurler and Footballer of the last 25 years (1984 – 2009) from a shortlist compiled by broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and a panel of experts.

More than 104,000 viewers voted in the poll, which saw Shefflin voted as the best hurler of the last 25 years with Kilkenny's DJ Carey in second place and Tipperary's Nicky English in third.

Kerry legend Jack O’Shea was voted best footballer followed closely in second place by Tyrone’s Peter Canavan and Kerry midfielder Dara Ó Sé in third.

Both players received a commemorative piece of crystal from the presentation party including Ó Muircheartaigh, GAA president Christy Cooney, TG4 ceannasaí Pól Ó Gallchóir, chairman of the Munster Council Jimmy O’Gorman and Gavan Becton on behalf of The Star newspaper.

Also during the afternoon on TG4, viewers had the opportunity to see the Top 50 hurling goals and Top 50 gaelic football goals.

Jimmy Barry Murphy’s goal for Cork against Galway in the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final came in top spot while in the football category, Kevin Foley’s goal for Meath against Dublin in the famous encounter during the 1991 Leinster Football Championship topped the polls.

All the various winners were announced during TG4’s live coverage of the AIB Munster Club Hurling Quarter-Final between Newtownshandrum and Thurles Sarsfields this afternoon at Semple Stadium, Thurles.