Opel GPA football nominations announced
October 11, 2007
The official nominees for the 2007 Opel Gaelic Players Awards for football have been announced by the GPA. A total of 45 players have been named on the shortlist for the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year, with three 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 - three players for each position. The shortlist contains players from 11 counties including; Kerry, Cork, Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Galway, Sligo, Tyrone, Monaghan, Derry and Donegal.
The Opel Gaelic Team of the Year shortlist reflects the most successful counties in this year's championship with All-Ireland champions Kerry receiving a total of 10 nominations. Losing All-Ireland finalists Cork, All-Ireland semi finalists Dublin and Meath and All-Ireland quarter finalists Monaghan all received six nominations each.
The three nominees for the Opel Gaelic Player of the year as chosen by the Football Selection Committee are: Marc Ó Sé (Kerry), Colm Cooper (Kerry) and Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry)
The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee consisting of Chairman Jack O'Connor, along with Martin McHugh, Keith Barr, Tony Davis 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 "The Football Committee has chosen what it considers to be the three most deserving players in it each position. 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 2007."
Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland, said, "The shortlist announcements reflect the fact that this season's 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 2nd."
Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players' Association said, "Thanks to our panel of experts, we have a list of nominations that truly reflects the outstanding performances of the football championship. Now the players will make their choices and, next to an All-Ireland medal, I believe there is no greater accolade than the acknowledgement of your peers. Congratulations to all the footballers who participated in the 2007 season and good luck to all the nominees."
The shortlist in full for the Opel Gaelic team of the Year consists of:
1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Diarmuid Murphy (Kerry), Brendan Murphy (Meath)
2. Marc Ó Sé (Kerry), Michael Shields (Cork), Dessie Mone (Monaghan)
3. Graham Canty (Cork), Kevin McCloy (Derry), Darren Fay (Meath)
4. Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Karl Lacey (Donegal), Ross Donovan (Sligo)
5. Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry), Damien Freeman (Monaghan), Noel O'Leary (Cork)
6. Aidan O'Mahoney (Kerry), Gary McQuaid (Monaghan), Michael McNamara (Sligo)
7. Barry Cahill (Dublin), Killian Young (Kerry), Caoimhín King (Meath)
Midfield. Nicholas Murphy (Cork), Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry), Ciaran Whelan (Dublin), Fergal Doherty (Derry), Eoin Lennon (Monaghan), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
10. Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), John Doyle (Kildare)
11. Alan Brogan (Dublin), Rory Woods (Monaghan), Anthony Moyles (Meath)
12. Paul Galvin (Kerry), Rory Kavanagh (Donegal), Nicky Joyce (Galway)
13. James Masters (Cork), Colm Cooper (Kerry), Conal Keaney (Dublin)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Graham Geraghty (Meath)
15. Stephen Bray (Meath), Thomas Freeman (Monaghan), Donnacha O'Connor (Cork)
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