February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The other provincial champions predictably haven’t fared quite as well with Tyrone getting five nominations, Dublin four and Mayo just two. Graham Canty, along with the Kerry pair, Paul Galvin and Tomas O Se, are in the running for the Footballer of the Year award, while Colm O’Neill (Cork), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo) and Michael Murphy (Donegal) will contest the Young Footballer of the Year award.
In hurling, All Ireland champions Kilkenny have 12 nominees, which is curiously one less than losing finalists Tipperary. Henry Shefflin is odds-on to secure a ninth award which will bring him level with DJ Carey and Pat Spillane.
Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Lar Corbett (Tipperary) and John Mullane (Waterford) have been nominated for the Hurler of the Year award, with Joe Canning (Galway), Noel McGrath (Tipperary) and Padraic Maher (Tipperary) up for the Young Hurler of the Year award.
The 2009 GAA All Stars will be presented in Dublin on 16 October.
Meanwhile, there were a number of county finals up for decision in both codes last weekend. In Cork, a super last-ditch point by sub David O’Regan gave Clonakilty a dramatic 1-13 to 1-12 win over St Finbarr’s at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and a first football title since 1996.
Clontibret retained the championship in Monaghan when they ran out fairly comfortable 2-13 to 0-9 winners over Latton in Clones. Conor McManus contributed an impressive 1-9, including five frees, for Clontibret.
Castlerea St Kevin’s also retained their title in Roscommon with a 0-10 to 0-6 success against Western Gaels in a disappointing decider at Hyde Park where Nigel Dineen delivered a highly influential performance.
In Fermanagh, there was redemption for Derrygonnelly Harps who lost last year’s final. This time they made no mistake with a convincing 3-9 to 1-7 verdict over Roslea Shamrocks at Brewster Park.
Clonguish left it late to secure a 13th Longford title, but scores by the Barden brothers, David and Paul, in injury time saw them through to narrow 0-9 to 1-5 win over Dromard at Pearse Park.
In Leitrim, Glencar/Manhorhamilton edged out Carrigallen, who were chasing a first title in 66 years, by 0-14 to 2-7 in a pulsating decider in Carrick-on-Shannon, while there was no such drama in Antrim where the championship was easily retained by St Gall’s who got the better of Casement’s by 2-20 to 0-6.
On the hurling front, Dunloy defeated Cushendall by 3-14 to 1-13 in the Antrim final at Casement Park, while in Down, holders Ballygalget were knocked off their perch by Ballycran who took the title by 1-14 to 0-12 in Downpatrick.
The Kerry championship went to Kilmoyley who defeated St Brendan’s by 1-19 to 2-8 in Tralee, and Clonkill lived up to their billing as favorites in Westmeath to get the better of Lough Lene Gaels by 1-16 to 2-9 in Mullingar.
Carrickmore’s bid for a fourth Tyrone title in a row was ended by Dungannon earned the victory by 1-10 to 0-10 at Greencastle, while Kevin Lynch’s and Slaughtneil will have to do it all again in Derry following their 3-10 apiece draw.