Eight Donegal players on All-Star side

Eight players from All-Ireland football champions Donegal have secured a place on the 2012 All-Stars team, with beaten finalists Mayo awarded four spots.

Donegal are represented on every line of the side, with 10 first time winners in all on the team.

Paul Durcan was named in goal, with county teammate Neil McGee and Mayo duo Ger Cafferkey and Keith Higgins in front of him.

The half-back line was made up of the Heather County’s Lee Keegan and Donegal’s Karl Lacey and Frank McGlynn.

Neil Gallagher and Cork’s Aidan Walsh occupy the midfield spots, with Dublin’s sole representative Paul Flynn joined by Alan Dillon and Mark McHugh in the half-forwards.

Another Cork man, Colm O’Neill, was joined by Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden on the full-forward line.

The champions’ haul sees them beat their previous best of seven back in 1992 when the father and uncle of Mark McHugh, Martin and James, were both selected.

The McHugh father and son combination sees the family join an illustrious band of father/son recipients which includes Liam/Kevin O’Neill, Pat/Paddy Reynolds, Dermot/Dermot Earley, Frank/Brian McGuigan, Bernard/Alan and Bernard Brogan, Tim/Tadhg Kennelly.

Commenting on the team, GAA president Liam Ó Néill said: “After the honour of winning an All-Ireland medal I know how much store our players place on winning these awards. They acknowledge individual excellence and are accolades that are cherished long after playing days end.

“I heartily congratulate those who have made the selection and I hope it inspires them to challenge for future honours both as individuals but also as team players.

“A special word of thanks is also due to Dessie Farrell and the GPA as this joint scheme in its second year continues to go from strength to strength.”

GPA chief Dessie Farrell added: “Congratulations to the 15 footballers chosen on this year’s GAA GPA All-Star team sponsored by Opel.

“While players understand the importance of the collective effort of a team it is nonetheless a very prestigious honour for the individual footballer to be recognised for his consistent contribution to that effort during the season. Unsurprisingly the selection is dominated by Donegal after their extraordinary year which yielded the county’s second All-Ireland in most impressive fashion.”

The Player and Young Player of the Year awards, voted on by inter-county players, will be announced tomorrow evening alongside the 2012 GAA GPA hurling All-Stars.