Connolly shortlisted for Footballer of Year as nine Dubs among All Star nominations

Wed, 8th October 2014

Nine Dublin footballers have been shortlisted in the 2014 GAA/GPA All Stars nominations list, sponsored by Opel, while Diarmuid Connolly has also been included among the nominations for Footballer of the Year.

The nine are: Stephen Cluxton, Rory O'Carroll, Philly McMahon, Jonny Cooper, James McCarthy, Michael Darragh Macauley, Diarmuid Connolly, Paul Flynn and Kevin McManamon following the Dubs NFL Division and Leinster SFC successes before they exited the Championship when losing to Donegal in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Recently crowned All-Ireland champions Kerry lead the way with 11 nominations and are followed by beaten All-Ireland finalists Donegal who, along with Jim Gavin's Dublin, earn nine.

Connacht champions Mayo receive six and Monaghan’s season is acknowledged by the inclusion of four of their players on the short list of 45.

The inclusion of representatives from Armagh (two), Tipperary, Derry, Cork and Galway (all one each) mean no fewer than ten counties feature on this year’s nominations list.

In all 10 of the players who received awards last year are nominated.

The nominations and the short lists for the Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year are selected by GAA journalists.

The GPA membership will vote on the shortlists for the two individual awards and all of the awards will be presented at the annual All-Stars banquet which takes place in the Convention Centre in Dublin on Friday, October 24.

2014 GAA/GPA ALL STARS FOOTBALL NOMINATIONS

GOALKEEPERS (3): Rory Beggan (Monaghan), Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Paul Durcan (Donegal).

FULL-BACKS (9): Fionn Fitzgerald (Kerry), Keith Higgins (Mayo), Andy Mallon (Armagh), Eamon McGee (Donegal), Neil McGee (Donegal), Philly McMahon (Dublin), Paul Murphy (Kerry), Rory O’Carroll (Dublin), Drew Wylie (Monaghan).

HALF-BACKS (9): Colm Boyle (Mayo), Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Peter Crowley (Kerry), Lee Keegan (Mayo), James McCarthy (Dublin), Frank McGlynn (Donegal), Dessie Mone (Monaghan), Aidan O’Mahony (Kerry), Colin O’Riordan (Tipperary).

MIDFIELDERS (6): Neil Gallagher (Donegal), Michael Darragh Macauley (Dublin), Odhrán Mac Niallais (Donegal), Anthony Maher (Kerry), David Moran (Kerry), Seamus O’Shea (Mayo).

HALF-FORWARDS (9): Johnny Buckley (Kerry), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Mark Lynch (Derry), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry), Shane Walsh (Galway).

FULL-FORWARDS (9): Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Paul Geaney (Kerry), Brian Hurley (Cork), Tony Kernan (Armagh), Cillian O’Connor (Mayo), James O’Donoghue (Kerry), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Paddy McBrearty (Donegal), Kevin McManamon (Dublin).

FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS: Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Neil McGee (Donegal), James O’Donoghue (Kerry).

YOUNG FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS (U21): Paddy McBrearty (Donegal), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Shane Walsh (Galway).