2008 GPA Teams Nominees Announced

cruiserweight

Some interesting nominations here, I think Redmond Barry has a good chance of getting one

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2008/1008/opelawards.html?gaa

The official nominees for the 2008 Opel Gaelic Players' Awards for football have been announced on Wednesday by the Gaelic Players' Association.

A total of 45 players have been named on the shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year, with four players also nominated for the Opel Gaelic Player of the Year award.

The shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year includes 45 players - three players for each position. The shortlist contains players from 15 counties including; Tyrone, Kerry, Wexford, Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare, Galway, Mayo, Cork, Limerick, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Armagh, Down and Derry.

The Opel Gaelic Team of the Year shortlist reflects the most successful counties in this year's championship with All-Ireland champions Tyrone receiving a total of 9 nominations. Losing All-Ireland finalists Kerry received 8 nominations while All-Ireland semi finalists Wexford received 4.

Dublin, Westmeath, Galway, Cork, Fermanagh and Armagh all received three nominations each.

The four nominees for the Opel Gaelic Player of the Year as chosen by the Football Selection Committee are: Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Brian Dooher (Tyrone) Tomas Ó Sé (Kerry) and Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry).

The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee consisting of Chairman Jack O'Connor, along with Keith Barr, Martin McHugh and Paddy Heaney. The winners will be selected by GPA members, all of whom have been issued with voting cards.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Football Selection Committee, Jack O'Connor said: 'Gaelic football is a team game, but as we all know individual contributions throughout the year are deserving of recognition.

'As always with these type of awards, they are entirely subjective and are sure to generate debate. However, the committee feels the 45 players we have chosen have earned their selection.'

Dave Sheeran, Managing Director Opel Ireland, said: 'The shortlist announcements reflect the fact that this season's championship touched every community across the country. The breadth of the nominations recognises the contribution of local heroes to the 2008 Football Championship.

'Opel is delighted to be in a position to reward their efforts and I look forward to meeting the winners at the awards ceremony on November 7th.'

Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players' Association said: 'There was clearly a high level of competition for places in this year's Opel Gaelic Team of the Year and that is reflected in the calibre of candidates that have been included.

'I would personally like to thank Jack O' Connor and his committee for the work they have put into drawing up the nominations and I look forward to the next stage of the process when the players vote for their peers to pick the final 15.'

The shortlist in full for the 2008 Opel Gaelic Team of the Year consists of:
1 Ronan Gallagher (Fermanagh), Gary Connaughton (Westmeath), Anthony Masterson (Wexford)
2 Marc Ó Sé (Kerry), Dessie Mone (Monaghan), John Keane (Westmeath)
3 Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Francie Bellew (Armagh), Finian Hanley (Galway)
4 Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Anthony Lynch (Cork), David Henry (Dublin)
5 Tomas Ó Sé (Kerry), Davy Harte (Tyrone), Michael Ennis (Westmeath)
6 Ryan McCluskey (Fermanagh), Philip Jordan (Tyrone), Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry)
7 Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Graham Canty (Cork)
8 & 9 Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry), Shane Ryan (Dublin), Dan Gordon (Down), John Galvin (Limerick), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh)
10 Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Alan Dillon (Mayo), John Doyle (Kildare)
11 Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry), Padraic Joyce (Galway), Pearse O'Neill (Cork)
12 Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Redmond Barry (Wexford), Alan Brogan (Dublin)
13 Colm Cooper (Kerry), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Ciaran Lyng (Wexford)
14 Sean Cavanagh, (Tyrone), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Ronan Clarke (Armagh)
15 Tommy Walsh (Kerry), Michael Meehan (Galway), Matty Forde (Wexford)

Pride Fighter

Its a good list, I wonder what the differences between the final 15 and the all stars 15 will be. The GPA award is very good IMO, its voted by their fellow players.

Agus

Picking from the alternatives given, a team something like this maybe?

1 Anthony Masterson (Wexford)
2 Marc Ó Sé (Kerry)
3 Justin McMahon (Tyrone)
4 Conor Gormley (Tyrone),
5 Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry),
6 Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry)
7 Graham Canty (Cork)
8 & 9 Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh)
10 Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11 Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry),
12 Redmond Barry (Wexford)
13 Colm Cooper (Kerry),
14 Seán Cavanagh, (Tyrone),
15 Matty Forde (Wexford)

Daysha

Any word on the hurling?

yahoo_moe

Pride Fighter wrote: »

Its a good list, I wonder what the differences between the final 15 and the all stars 15 will be. The GPA award is very good IMO, its voted by their fellow players.

Plus it's a more accurate list in terms of keeping players in their usual positions - in the GPA awards, Cavanagh, Donaghy and Clarke can't all win All-Stars*. Similarly, there'll have to be a choice between Tomás Ó Sé and Davy Harte (Ó Sé for me) - very interesting.


* Having said that, I can see the logic in, say, shifting Cavanagh out to the half-forward line in the All-Star nominations to free up space. I don't like the fact that Tomás Ó Sé seems certain to be named at 6, though - complete cop-out.

An Citeog

deise59 wrote: »

Any word on the hurling?

Taken from Hill16.ie,

OPEL/GPA Hurling Team of the Year Nominations
1 Brendan Cummins (Tipperary), Clinton Hennessy (Waterford), PJ Ryan (Kilkenny).

2 Shane ONeill (Cork), Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Pat Vaughan (Clare).

3 Paul Curran (Tipperary), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), David Kenny (Offaly).

4 Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny), Brian Murphy (Cork), Conor OBrien (Tipperary).

5 Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Michael Jacob (Wexford), Tony Browne (Waterford).

6. Conor OMahony (Tipperary), Brian Hogan (Kilkenny), Ronan Fallon (Dublin).

7 JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork), Shane Maher (Tipperary).

8 and 9 Shane McGrath (Tipperary), Derek Lyng (Kilkenny), Tom Kenny (Cork), James Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny), Brian OConnell (Clare), Colin Lynch (Clare).

10 Ben OConnor (Cork), Niall Gilligan (Clare), Brian Carroll (Offaly).

11 Seamus Callinan (Tipperary), Diarmuid MacMahon (Clare), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny).

12 Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Jonathan Clancy (Clare), Stephen Doyle (Wexford).

13 Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), David OCallaghan (Dublin).

14 Eoin Kelly (Waterford), Lar Corbett (Tipperary), Joe Bergin (Offaly).

15 John Mullane (Waterford), Aidan Fogarty (Kilkenny), Joe Canning (Galway).

premierstone

I'll have a go at the Hurling 15 so :

1. Brendan Cummins
2. Michael Kavanagh
3. Paul Curran
4. Jackie Tyrell
5. Tommy Walsh
6. Conor O'Mahoney
7. JJ Delaney
8. Shane Mc Grath
9. Cha Fitzpatrick
10. Ben O'Connor
11. Seamus Callinan
12. Eoin Larkin
13. Eddie Brennan
14. Eoin Kelly
15. Joe Canning

yahoo_moe

premierstone wrote: »

I'll have a go at the Hurling 15 so :

1. Brendan Cummins
2. Michael Kavanagh
3. Paul Curran
4. Jackie Tyrell
5. Tommy Walsh
6. Conor O'Mahoney
7. JJ Delaney
8. Shane Mc Grath
9. Cha Fitzpatrick
10. Ben O'Connor
11. Seamus Callinan
12. Eoin Larkin
13. Eddie Brennan
14. Eoin Kelly
15. Joe Canning

Maybe Tony Browne for Tommy Walsh and I'd have Mullane for Joe Canning but otherwise I'd go with that. Both tough enough calls for me, can't really decide on 5 but think Mullane was outstanding all year against better opposition so he'd just shade 15 for me.

K-9

Agus wrote: »

Picking from the alternatives given, a team something like this maybe?

1 R. Gallagher (Fermanagh) surprised he wasn't nominated for an All Star.
2 J. Keane (Westmeath)
3 Justin McMahon (Tyrone)
4 Conor Gormley (Tyrone),
5 Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry),
6 P. Jordan (Tyrone)
7 K. McKeever (Armagh)
8 & 9 Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh)
10 Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11 Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry),
12 Redmond Barry (Wexford)
13 Colm Cooper (Kerry),
14 Seán Cavanagh, (Tyrone),
15 M. Meehan (Galway)

Can't understand why M.O'Se and Francie keep getting nominated.

Davey Harte, O'Mahoney, Ryan McMenamin, Shane Ryan, Pauric Joyce, Joe McMahon and Walsh all very close.

The above was picked as the best players, no provincial champion concerns etc.