Nominations for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year and Opel Gaelic Player of the Year for Football announced by the Gaelic Players' Association The official nominees for the 2006 Opel Gaelic Players Awards for football have been announced today by the Gaelic Players Association (Tuesday, 3rd October 2006). A total of 45 players have been named on the shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year, with 4 players also nominated for the Opel Gaelic Player of the Year award. The shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year includes 45 players 3 players for each position. The shortlist contains players from 12 counties including; Kerry, Dublin, Mayo, Armagh, Cork, Donegal, Longford, Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, Derry and Fermanagh. The Opel Gaelic Team of the Year shortlist reflects the most successful counties in this yearís championship with All-Ireland champions Kerry receiving a total of 8 nominations, while losing All ñ Ireland finalists Mayo, and All ñ Ireland semi finalists Dublin both received 7 nominations. The four nominees for the Opel Gaelic Player of the year as chosen by the Football Selection Committee are: Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Darragh O'SÈ (Kerry), Ciaran McDonald (Mayo) and Ronan Clarke (Armagh). The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee consisting of John O'Mahony (Chairman), Kevin O'Brien, Martin McHugh and Tony Davis. 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, John O'Mahony, said "This is a subjective consideration of who our committee believe are the best players in the fifteen on-field positions during the course of the year. No doubt it will generate plenty of debate as regards who's in and who's not but the players now have the chance and the honour of selecting who are the best among their peers in 2006." Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland, said, "The shortlist announcements reflect the fact that this seasonís championship touched every community across the country. The breadth of the nominations recognises the contribution of local heroes from Malin Head to Mizen Head. We are delighted to be in a position to reward their efforts and I look forward to meeting the winners at the awards ceremony on November 10th." Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players' Association said, "In this the seventh year of the GPA's annual awards scheme, the players will once again be given the opportunity to acknowledge the individual achievements of their peers. With the support of Opel, the inaugural Teams of the Year in Football and Hurling are a very welcome addition to our awards portfolio in 2006. Indeed, with an Opel car valued at E25,000 for the individual Players' of the Year in both codes, and a E2,500 incentive for players voted onto the respective Teams of the Year by GPA members, the Opel Gaelic Players Awards is now the most lucrative awards scheme in gaelic games. We look forward to announcing the winners, in the company of 1200 guests and the GPA membership, at our Annual Gala and Awards evening on November 10th." The shortlist in full for the Opel Gaelic team of the Year consists of: 1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Alan Quirke (Cork), Gary Connaughton (Westmeath). 2. Karl Lacey (Donegal), Paul Griffin (Dublin), and Marc "O'SÈ (Kerry). 3. Graham Canty (Cork), Barry Owens (Fermanagh), Francie Bellew (Armagh). 4. Tom O'Sullivan (Kerry), Joe Higgins (Laois), Keith Higgins (Mayo). 5. Seamus Moynihan (Kerry), Aaron Kernan (Armagh), Peadar Gardiner (Mayo). 6. Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Ger Spillane (Cork), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh). 7. Karol Slattery (Offaly), Barry Dunnion (Donegal), Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry 8 & 9 Nicholas Murphy (Cork), Ronan McGarrity (Mayo), Shane Ryan (Dublin). Darragh O' SÈ (Kerry), Ciaran Whelan (Dublin),Paul McGrane (Armagh). 10. Alan Dillon (Mayo), Sean O'Sullivan (Kerry), Ross Munnelly (Laois). 11. Alan Brogan (Dublin), Ger Brady (Mayo), Paul Barden (Longford). 12. Ciaran McDonald (Mayo), Paul Galvin (Kerry), Rory Kavanagh (Donegal). 13. Conor Mortimer (Mayo), James Masters (Cork), Steven McDonnell (Armagh). 14. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Conal Keaney (Dublin), Paddy Bradley (Derry). 15. Ronan Clarke (Armagh), Niall McNamee (Offaly), Brian Kavanagh (Longford). Tweet

Most Read Stories