Four Dubs footballers nominated for Leinster award

Leinster senior champions Dublin and Kilkenny dominate the shortlists that have been drawn up to honour this year’s outstanding players in the Leinster senior football and hurling championships.

This new accolade will see the overall winner in both codes awarded a specially commissioned Pearse Medal, which acknowledges the link between the 1916 leader and the Leinster Council of the GAA.

In football, Dublin’s strong grip on the ownership of the Delaney Cup since 2011 is evidenced by the fact that they supply four of the five players who have made the shortlist.

Diarmuid Connolly is a 2016 All-Star who delivered a masterclass against both Laois and Meath to set up Dublin’s defence of the provincial crown.

Jonny Cooper is another All-Star who laid down a marker for his strong season that followed with his performances in Leinster as a leader of the defence.

James Dolan was man of the match for Westmeath in their quarter final win over Offaly and semi-final win over Kildare in a season that saw them reach a second consecutive Leinster senior final.

Brian Fenton had a sensational second season as a senior footballer with Dublin and was outstanding in midfield.

Dean Rock amassed 1-28 over the course of Dublin’s three-game run to the Leinster crown and was a consistent performer for Jim Gavin’s men.

In hurling, Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley underlined his status as one of the new leaders for Brian Cody’s men and was excellent in the half back line.

Galway’s David Burke was an immense figure for the Tribesmen and helped them reach the Leinster final with Kilkenny with wins over Westmeath and Offaly.

JohnJo Farrell lit up the Leinster Championship with his attacking displays for the Cats and scored 1-5 against Dublin and 1-4 against Galway.

Paul Murphy delivered exceptional performances in the Kilkenny full back line in crunch matches against Dublin and Galway.

Westmeath played four matches in the Leinster SHC, topping the round robin group, and Niall O’Brien was their most consistent performer who also bagged 0-32 between frees and points from play.

The overall Leinster senior hurler and footballer of the year will be announced early next month.

The players will be awarded a new Pearse Medal which is in recognition of the fact that, in the years before his part as a leader in the 1916 Rising, Pádraig Pearse held the post of Vice President of the then Leinster Council Colleges’ Committee.

The selection was made by a panel of representatives of the national GAA media and Leinster GAA.

LEINSTER GAA PEARSE MEDAL NOMINEES 2016

FOOTBALL

Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Jonny Cooper (Dublin), James Dolan (Westmeath), Brian Fenton (Dublin), Dean Rock (Dublin)

HURLING

Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny), David Burke (Galway), JJ Farrell (Kilkenny), Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), Niall O’Brien (Westmeath)