The official nominees for the 2008 Opel Gaelic Players Awards for football have been announced today by the GPA. A total of 45 players have been named on the shortlist for the Team of the Year, with four players also nominated for the Player of the Year award. The shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year includes 45 players - three players for each position. The shortlist contains players from 15 counties including; Tyrone, Kerry, Wexford, Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare, Galway, Mayo, Cork, Limerick, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Armagh, Down and Derry. The Opel Gaelic Team of the Year shortlist reflects the most successful counties in this year's championship with All-Ireland champions Tyrone receiving a total of nine nominations. Losing All-Ireland finalists Kerry received eight nominations while All-Ireland semi-finalists Wexford received four. Dublin, Westmeath, Galway, Cork, Fermanagh and Armagh all received three nominations each. The four nominees for the Opel Gaelic Player of the year as chosen by the Football Selection Committee are: Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Brian Dooher (Tyrone) Tomas O Se (Kerry) and Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry). The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee consisting of Chairman Jack O'Connor, along with Keith Barr, Martin McHugh and Paddy Heaney. The winners will be selected by GPA members, all of whom have been issued with voting cards. Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Football Selection Committee, Jack O'Connor said, "Gaelic football is a team game, but as we all know individual contributions throughout the year are deserving of recognition. As always with these type of awards, they are entirely subjective and are sure to generate debate. However, the committee feels the 45 players we have chosen have earned their selection." The shortlist in full for the 2008 Opel Gaelic team of the Year consists of: 1. Ronan Gallagher (Fermanagh), Gary Connaughton (Westmeath), Anthony Masterson (Wexford) 2. Marc O Se (Kerry), Dessie Mone (Monaghan), John Keane (Westmeath) 3. Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Francie Bellew (Armagh), Finian Hanley (Galway) 4. Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Anthony Lynch (Cork), David Henry (Dublin) 5. Tomas S (Kerry), Davy Harte (Tyrone), Michael Ennis (Westmeath) 6. Ryan McCluskey (Fermanagh), Philip Jordan (Tyrone), Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry) 7. Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Graham Canty (Cork) 8 & 9 Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Darragh O Se (Kerry), Shane Ryan (Dublin), Dan Gordon (Down), John Galvin (Limerick), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh) 10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Alan Dillon (Mayo), John Doyle (Kildare) 11. Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry), Padraic Joyce (Galway), Pearse O'Neill (Cork) 12. Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Redmond Barry (Wexford), Alan Brogan (Dublin) 13. Colm Cooper (Kerry), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Ciaran Lyng (Wexford) 14. Sean Cavanagh, (Tyrone), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Ronan Clarke (Armagh) 15. Tommy Walsh (Kerry), Michael Meehan (Galway), Matty Forde (Wexford) Tweet

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