The official nominees for the 2007 Opel Gaelic Players Awards for Hurling have been announced. A total of 45 players have been named on the shortlist for the Opel Hurling Team of the Year, with three players also nominated for the Opel Hurling Player of the Year award. The shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year comprises 45 players - three players for each position. The shortlist contains players from ten counties including; Kilkenny, Limerick, Cork, Clare, Waterford, Tipperary, Wexford, Galway, Dublin and Laois. The shortlist reflects the most successful counties in this year's championship. All-Ireland champions Kilkenny received 11 nominations, while losing All-Ireland finalists Limerick received 10. All-Ireland semi-finalists Waterford and All-Ireland quarter finalists Cork received nine and six nominations respectively. The three nominees for the Opel Gaelic Player of the year as chosen by the Hurling Selection Committee are: Dan Shanahan (Waterford), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) and Ollie Moran (Limerick). The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee consisting of Donal O'Grady (Chairman), Cyril Farrell, Michael Duignan and Diarmuid O'Flynn. The winners will be selected by GPA members, all of whom have been issued with voting cards. Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Hurling Selection Committee, Donal O'Grady, said: "The Hurling Committee has chosen what it believes to be the three most deserving players in each position. Now the players have the opportunity to recognise individual ability and endeavour and to acknowledge the premier occupants of the respective on-field positions." Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland, said, "The announcement of the Hurling shortlists reflects the fact that this season's championship was hugely competitive. The nominations recognise the huge contribution and effort these local heroes have made to the continuing success of the sport. I look forward to celebrating their achievements at the awards ceremony on November 2nd." Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players' Association said, "From early in the summer, the hurling championship dominated the sporting calendar and the many memorable battles are reflected by the list of nominations. I congratulate all the players involved in this year's campaign and wish all the nominees the best of luck in the final vote. As far as awards go, receiving the recognition of your fellow players will always stand out." The shortlist in full for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year for Hurling consists of: 1. D?nal Óg Cusack (Cork), Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford), Brian Murray (Limerick) 2. Damien Reale (Limerick), Gerry O'Grady (Clare), Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny) 3. Declan Fanning (Tipperary), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), Stephen Lucey (Limerick) 4. Seamus Hickey (Limerick), Aidan Kearney (Waterford), Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny) 5. Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Eamon Corcoran (Tipperary) Tony Browne (Waterford) 6. Ronan Fallon (Dublin), Brian Geary (Limerick), Ken McGrath (Waterford) 7. J.J. Delaney (Kilkenny), Mark Foley (Limerick), Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork) Midfield. Michael Walsh (Waterford), James "Cha" Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny), Derek Lyng (Kilkenny), Eoin Kelly (Waterford), Tom Kenny (Cork) and Donal O'Grady (Limerick) 10. Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Ben O'Connor (Cork), Alan Kerins (Galway) 11. Ollie Moran (Limerick), Seamus Prendergast (Waterford), James Young (Laois) 12. Dan Shanahan (Waterford), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Stephen Molumphy (Waterford) 13. Andrew O'Shaughnessy (Limerick), John Mullane (Waterford), Neil Ronan (Cork) 14. Brian Begley (Limerick), Kieran Murphy (Cork), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) 15. Martin Comerford (Kilkenny), Lar Corbett (Tipperary), Rory Jacob (Wexford) Tweet

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