Football All-Stars exclude Cullen

Dublin‘s All-Ireland winning captain Bryan Cullen has been left of the list of 45 nominees for the 2011 Gaelic football All-Stars.

While the half-forward line was one of the most competitive areas for selection, it is hard to understand why one of the champions outstanding performers failed to make to cut for the nominations.

Three other Dubs who started the All-Ireland final also failed to made the cut. Barry Cahill, Michael Fitzsimons and James McCarthy join Cullen as those deemed not good enough but Dublin do top the list with 12 names.

Losing finalists Kerry receive nine nominees, Ulster champions Donegal have seven, while Kildare and Mayo have five each.

Last year's champions Cork have three, Tyrone have two and Derry and Wexford recieve one each.

Goalkeepers: Brendan Kealy (Kerry), Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Paul Durkan (Donegal).
Full Backs: Michael Foley (Kildare), Neil McGee (Donegal), Frank McGlynn (Donegal), Marc Ó Sé (Kerry), Rory O'Carroll (Dublin), Tom O'Sullivan (Kerry), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Hugh McGrillen (Kildare), Cian O'Sullivan (Dublin).

Half backs: Karl Lacey (Donegal), Donal Vaughan (Mayo), Trevor Mortimer (Mayo), Kevin Nolan (Dublin), Kevin Cassidy (Donegal), Emmet Bolton (Kildare), Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry), Killian Young (Kerry), Ger Brennan (Dublin).
Midfielders: Bryan Sheehan (Kerry), Michael Darragh Macauley (Dublin), Alan O’Connor (Cork), Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone), John Doyle (Kildare), Denis Bastick (Dublin).

Half Forwards: Ben Brosnan (Wexford), Alan Brogan (Dublin), Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry), Declan O’Sullivan (Kerry), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Alan Dillon (Mayo), Kevin McManamon (Dublin), Paddy Kelly (Cork), Eamonn Callaghan (Kildare).

Full forwards: Donnacha O’Connor (Cork), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Colm Cooper (Kerry), Andy Moran (Mayo), Colm McFadden (Donegal), Eoin Bradley (Derry), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Cillian O’Connor (Mayo).

The county by county breakdown is as follows: Dublin 12, Kerry 9, Donegal 7, Mayo 5, Kildare 5, Cork 3, Tyrone 2, Wexford 1, Derry 1.

The final team of 15 players will be presented at the banquet event at Convention Centre Dublin on Friday October 21.