The nominees for the 2009 Opel GPA Football Team of the Year have been announced today by the Gaelic Players Association. A total of 45 players have been shortlisted for the Team of the Year, while two players also received nominations for the prestigious Opel GPA Footballer of the Year Award.
The shortlist for the Opel GPA Football Team of the Year includes three players for each position reflecting the dominant role played by the player during the 2009 season. The list contains players from 12 counties including: Kerry, Cork, Tyrone, Kildare, Donegal, Antrim, Dublin, Meath, Wicklow, Sligo, Mayo and Derry.
The Opel Football Team of the Year shortlist reflects the most successful counties in this year's championship with All-Ireland champions Kerry receiving a total of 11 nominations while runners-up Cork received 9. Semi-finalists and Ulster champions Tyrone received four each, while Leinster champions Dublin also received four nominations.
The two nominees for the Opel Football Player of the year as chosen by the Football Selection Committee are: Paul Galvin (Kerry) and Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry).
The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee consisting of Chairman Martin McHugh, along with Keith Barr and Paddy Heaney. The winners will be selected by GPA members.
Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Football Selection Committee Martin McHugh said the nominations were a result of considered deliberations by the committee and emphasised that individual performance took precedence over team endeavour: "These type of awards are entirely subjective and don't always attract everyone's approval but the over-riding objective is to get the best 15 players for the 15 individual positions," said the former Donegal All-Ireland winner. "Those of us on the committee believe that the overall aim can be achieved from the 45 players whom we have chosen for the nominations."
Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland, said: "2009 was a thrilling year for Gaelic games and this year's nominations for the Opel GPA Football Team of the Year are as exciting as ever. We congratulate each and every one of the nominees and are glad to have the opportunity to acknowledge their contribution to their sport and to their county at the Opel GPA Awards ceremony on Friday, 6th November in Citywest Hotel."
Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players' Association said, "Competition for a place among the nominations was obviously intense, particularly as every player is being chosen in a specific position. Good luck to all the nominees in the selection process but of course no player would be singled out without the collective assistance of his team mates. Thanks to Chairman Martin McHugh and his committee for drawing up the nominations and thanks to Opel for their support for our player awards. I look forward to the next stage of the process when the players vote to pick the final 15 and the footballer of the year."
Nominees for Opel GPA Football Team of the Year:
1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Diarmuid Murphy (Kerry), Alan Quirke (Cork)
2. Colm Brady (Antrim), Karl Lacey (Donegal), Marc Ó Sé (Kerry),
3. Tommy Griffin (Kerry), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Michael Shields (Cork)
4. Ciaran Hyland (Wicklow), Tom O'Sullivan (Kerry), Gerard O'Kane (Derry)
5. Peadar Gardiner (Mayo), James Loughrey (Antrim), Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry)
6. Graham Canty (Cork), Michael McCarthy (Kerry), Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
7. Barry Cahill (Dublin), Mikey Conway (Kildare), John Miskella (Cork)
8. & 9. Dermot Earley (Kildare), Kevin Hughes (Tyrone), Nigel Crawford (Meath),
Ronan McGarrity (Mayo), Nicholas Murphy (Cork), Seamus Scanlon (Kerry)
10. Alan Brogan (Dublin), Paul Galvin (Kerry), Paul Kerrigan (Cork),
11. Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry), Pearse O'Neill (Cork), Joe Sheridan (Meath)
12. Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Paddy Kelly (Cork), James Kavanagh (Kildare)
13. Eoin Bradley (Derry), Daniel Goulding (Cork), Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone)
14. Michael Murphy (Donegal), Aidan O'Shea (Mayo), Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry)
15. Bernard Brogan (Dublin), David Kelly (Sligo), Tommy Walsh (Kerry)
Nominees for Opel GPA Player of the Year for Football:
Paul Galvin (Kerry) and Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry)
