Stars all - Well it is this time of year again when the playing fields of Ireland are virtually empty from an inter-county point of view but are still full of action and drama as the concluding stages of the club championships are in full swing. After a hectic summer for most players and maybe not so hectic for others, it is time to reflect and reward the year gone by in selecting the GAA All Stars team for 2007. Usually at this stage all hell has broken lose because a certain player from some county has been ignored for an award after giving outstanding performances throughout the year. This time round there seems to be a sense of calm and satisfaction that the selectors picked the best possible team. I agree with the majority of the selections but have a question mark over one or two. Let's take a look at the team. Goalkeeper - Brian Murray (Limerick) He had a wonderful year and it is a sign of the times in Limerick that this man gets his first award when not so long ago, the goalkeeping job was not a happy place to be. What a difference a year makes and he can now build upon this for the future. He was pushed to the pin of his collar by Damien Fitzhenry and Donal Og Cusack though. Right Corner Back - Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny) Hurled well in this position and had a very good All-Ireland final but my choice for here would have been either Seamus Hickey from Limerick or Aidan Kearney from Waterford. I know people will say that Hickey played mostly at left corner back but that is Jackie Tyrell's on his own. Full Back -Declan Fanning (Tipperary) Again there might be a bit of a surprise to some people but not to me. He was the most consistent Tipperary player this year and has now made this position his own. Contenders here would have to be Stephen Lucey and Noel Hickey and the Treaty no 3 would have been a good choice also as he did not do too much wrong this season. Left Corner Back - Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny) For me as mentioned above, there was only one man for this position and he cemented it really well by his performance in the final after getting a fright in the semi final from Barry Lambert. Right Half Back - Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) A racing certainty was the only way to describe the outcome here. This man has everything for a small man - pace, skill, left or right striking but more importantly courage to burn. As they say he has a great paw and how many times this year did we see him field a ball out of the air when it seemed he had no right to win it. He is in his best position now. Centre half Back - Ken McGrath (Waterford) He will not be happy how the year ended for his team after all the hard work earlier in the season as Waterford were only one step away from a final. It was not this man's fault though and one of the highlights of the year for me was his aerial catch whilst going backwards in the quarter-final game with Cork. He had a really solid year with Brian Geary as his main contender. Left Half Back - Tony Browne (Waterford) I must say I have to agree with this choice as he was Mr. Consistency all the way through and showed age is no barrier when you look after yourself well. Hopefully he has enough in the tank to go one more year because the Deise need him. Sean Og O'hAilpin and Mark Foley get a sympathy vote for losing out also but I am sure they will not begrudge it to Mr. Browne. Midfield - Michael Brick Walsh (Waterford) Well the name says it all; he is built like a brick, is great with the stick, and has powerful strength and height to match. This guy had a great season and is now one of the expected leaders of the pack. He should be around for a long time to come. Midfield - James Cha Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny) Hurling is a game of skill and this man has it in abundance. His reading of the game which allows him to be in the right position at the right time and his point scoring from distance made him a worthy winner in my eyes. For a small man he has a big heart and it was a great move by Brian Cody to bring him to midfield. He loves the freedom of the park. Derek Lyng and Mike O'Brien might feel like it was their turn but they will have to wait. Right Half Forward - Dan Shanahan (Waterford) Well what can one say, he is a goals corer supreme and for me Hurler of the Year without any doubt. He has now shown he has the right temperament for the big games whether they are in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Thurles or Croke Park. All he is short now is the Celtic Cross. Centre Forward - Ollie Moran (Limerick) For me he was Limericks best player this year. He lead by example and scored some spectacular goals and points on his journey and earns this position on his own with no other contenders in my book. Left Half Forward - Stephen Molumphy (Waterford) To many a surprise choice, but let's be honest this guy had a brilliant campaign from national league right through to the All-Ireland semi final. He came up with the vital scores and looked a very accomplished hurler. He certainly looks like one for the future. Ben O'Connor of Cork and Martin Comerford were the main other contenders for this position. Right Corner Forward - Andrew O'Shaughnessy (Limerick) He will be disappointed with his All-Ireland final performance but throughout the campaign he finally showed us all what we were missing. This guy has talent and now he has produced it on the big stage. He can only get better and another highlight of the year for me was his goal from the penalty spot in the semi final. It was coolness personified when all around him were losing it. A clean lift clean and strike, it was brilliant under pressure. Full Forward - Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) For me it was not his best year by his own standards and that is maybe because he has set them so high. He left the field at half time in All-Ireland, although the damage to Limerick was done by then, and held scoreless against Galway but is still the best attacker in the game. Is a joy to watch and adds this award to so many more he has already got. I wish him the best on his recovery from a cruciate ligament problem. The rest will do him good, which is a worry for the rest of us. Left Corner Forward - Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny) It was his best year by far in a Kilkenny jersey and put to rest the myth he cannot perform in the big games. A little kick up the back side from Cody in the semi-final had him as right as rain for the final and he duly delivered in the final. He is a classy hurler with frightening pace. So there you have the 2007 All Stars - anyone betting that some of these wil be there again next year - a few cats maybe? Tweet

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