The Armagh pair of Francie Bellew and Steven McDonnell, plus Donegal’s Adrian Sweeney, bring the Ulster representation to 10, with McDonnell also being honored with the Footballer of the Year accolade while Tyrone’s Sean Cavanagh was named Young Footballer of the Year.
Darragh O Se was unlucky not to get one of the midfield votes ahead of Galway veteran Kevin Walsh, and there was plenty of debate over the goalkeeping role, with Fergal Byron of Laois considered lucky to have edged out Kildare’s Enda Murphy.
Leinster champions Laois claimed three awards with defenders Joe Higgins and Tom Kelly making the final selection along with Byron, while Tipperary’s Declan Browne earned another award following an impressive summer.
In hurling, Kilkenny made up the lion’s share of the team with eight selections, including Player of the Year J.J. Delaney. The All-Ireland champions had a representative in every line, while Cork were next best with four players: brothers Sean Og and Setanta O hAilpin, Ronan Curran, and Joe Deane.
In the end, Sean Og O hAilpin was fortunate to have won his place ahead of county teammate Wayne Sherlock, while Darragh Ryan of Wexford narrowly missed out being included in the defense. John Mullane was Waterford’s sole representative, with Ollie Canning likewise for Galway.
Both Brian Mullins and James McGarry had their supporters. However, Tipperary’s Brendan Cummins won another award as goalkeeper, while the Young Player of the Year award went to Cork’s emerging corner-forward, Setanta O hAilpin.
2003 Football All Stars
Fergal Byron (Laois); Francie Bellew (Armagh), Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone), Joe Higgins (Laois); Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Tom Kelly (Laois), Philip Jordan (Armagh); Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Kevin Walsh (Galway); Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Brian McGuigan (Tyrone), Declan Browne (Tipperary); Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Peter Canavan (Tyrone), Adrian Sweeney (Donegal).
2003 Hurling All Stars
Brendan Cummins (Tipperary); Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), Ollie Canning (Galway); Sean Og O hAilpin (Cork), Ronan Curran (Cork), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny); Derek Lyng (Kilkenny), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny); John Mullane (Waterford), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny); Setanta O hAilpin (Cork), Martin Comerford (Kilkenny), Joe Deane (Cork).