GAA News

All-Ireland finalists Donegal and Mayo make up almost half the All-Star nominees for 2012, taking up an impressive 22 of the 45 nominations.

By Declan Whooley

Champions Donegal lead the way with 12 players named, with just Paddy McBrearty, Leo McLoone and Ryan Bradley omitted from the side that started the semi-final and final. McBrearty has the consolation of being one of the three Young Player of the Year nominees along with Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor and Meath’s Donal Keogan.

Jimmy McGuinness’ men also dominate the Player of the Year award, with Colm McFadden, Frank McGlynn and Karl Lacey battling it out for the top prize.

Mayo received 10 nominees but surprisingly centre-half Donal Vaughan is not one of them. Last year's finalists Dublin and Kerry have just seven nominees between them, with Colm Cooper the sole Kerry representative. Not since 2003 has the Kingdom failed to receive a single award.

Losing semi-finalists Cork received seven nominees and Meath have Graham Reilly along with Keogan in the mix. Longford also have two nominees, while Down, Kildare, Laois and Wexford all received a single nomination.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 24^th.

2012 ALL STARS: GAA/GPA Football nominations

GOALKEEPERS:

David Clarke (Mayo); Stephen Cluxton (Dublin); Paul Durcan (Donegal). 

FULL BACKS:

Eoin Cadogan (Cork); Ger Cafferkey (Mayo); Keith Higgins (Mayo); Donal Keogan (Meath); Eamon McGee (Donegal); Neil McGee (Donegal); Paddy McGrath (Donegal); Rory O’Carroll (Dublin); Michael Shields (Cork). 

HALF BACKS : 

Emmet Bolton (Kildare); Colm Boyle (Mayo); Adrian Flynn (Wexford); Lee Keegan (Mayo); Karl Lacey (Donegal); Frank McGlynn (Donegal); Kevin Nolan (Dublin); Michael Quinn (Longford); Anthony Thompson (Donegal). 

MIDFIELDERS:

Neil Gallagher (Donegal); Rory Kavanagh (Donegal); Barry Moran (Mayo); Aidan O’Shea (Mayo); Brendan Quigley (Laois); Aidan Walsh (Cork). 

HALF FORWARDS:

Paul Barden (Longford); Alan Dillon (Mayo); Paul Flynn (Dublin); Paul Kerrigan (Cork); Michael Darragh Macauley (Dublin); Mark McHugh (Donegal); Kevin McLoughlin (Mayo); Graham Reilly (Meath); Ciarán Sheehan (Cork). 

FULL FORWARDS:

Bernard Brogan (Dublin); Jamie Clarke (Armagh); Colm Cooper (Kerry); Conor Laverty (Down); Colm McFadden (Donegal); Andy Moran (Mayo); Michael Murphy (Donegal); Donncha O’Connor (Cork); Colm O’Neill (Cork).