Stranded - I agree that Fulham should have been represented on the panel, and have said earlier in the thread I felt it was a strange selection. But any club member coming on here whining and trying to degrade other teams and the all star selection is unacceptable, I don't care how hard done by they feel! It is not any of the lads that were picked fault, and I for one hope they have an enjoyable evening picking up their awards!

macattack (UK) - Posts: 584 - 18/02/2009 11:36:52    210551

The Moindearg full forward, Ferdy Coyne is in fact out with London and was an unused sub at the weekend against Carlow. Its not a question of whether he is better than Marty Hughes or anyone, it is an acknowledgement of what that particular individual acheived in that particular season.... Padraig Joyce is arguably the best living footballer in Ireland (along with Gooch), but he never got one last year and thats the point I'm trying to make. I do feel Fulham have a point in their argument, however any time All Stars come up, these debates wrangle, but it's like life, just move on. Surely those aggreived should channel their energy towards winning a Senior Champ rather than some lightly regarded award?....

opinion (Donegal) - Posts: 61 - 18/02/2009 11:40:50    210556

No one at Fulham Irish is interested in popularity contests. They are most certainly interested in any award being a fair reflection of what actually happened throughout the 2008 season.

JimCla1r (Meath) - Posts: 255 - 18/02/2009 11:49:10    210569

In response to Jim Cla1r, I feel agrieved that you are trying to diminish the efforts of the players who have been selected for these awards, none of the players knew they were going to be awarded and by coming on here and making those remarks you are trying to embaress these said players. We only lost 1 league game last year which was to Fulham irish and agreed you were by far the better team, the fact is 2 of the 3 selected Tara All stars were not playing that evening FACT!!! Would they have changed the game probably not. 5 of the starting 15 that day came through our underage and we have 8 lads in our squad that have been developed through underage football, we have done more for london football over the past 75 years than you have done in your 3 year existance.

tomcon (UK) - Posts: 33 - 18/02/2009 13:17:01    210683

Jim Clair, How many of the Tara players selected did you see playing that night by that way? The all star selections are questionable and the year Fulham had should have been recognised in those awards. "not even good enough to win the British Championship" not sure exactly what you mean by that but I think you mean to imply the standard outside of London isnt that great. Tara were beaten by a John Mitchels team that went back and won 2 games in Ireland (something your own club didnt manage). Tara were not that bad last year losing 2 games in London all year. There are a lot of players from outside senior on the selection but players outside of senior football do deserve recognition as well - some of them could easily have played for the big senior clubs. Out of interest did Fulham receive any awards in 2006 when they won the Intermediate Championship? Take your points to the organisers of the awards instead of belittling the recipients on a public message board. All these lads have trained all year just like your own fellas.

High_Tackle (UK) - Posts: 7 - 18/02/2009 14:06:24    210751

We would like to apologise to players and clubs that take offence to our comments. It is nothing against the players who have been published on the list - the point being made is that the system of selection is flawed. The All Stars should represent the best playing performers for the year not be a reward for a small club making an effort.

Apologies to anyone taking offence to the valid points being made but try to look at it Fulham Irish players point of view or any other player who performed to high level through 2008.

JimCla1r (Meath) - Posts: 255 - 18/02/2009 15:23:39    210876

Lads, who appointed the 4 people responsible for picking the all stars. How was this done or did they just decide to get together themselves and decide that they were picking them and thats the end of it. Im a bit confused about this. Can anyone explain to me as im sure they would have to be appointed by the County Board as it probably falls within the official guide rule book. Just a thought. If my line of thinking is correct and these people were not officially appointed to this job then i would suggest that i get together with my 3 mates and hand in the all star list of what we think and that will be final.Hows that lads. When you are picking people for this award you have to be honest as best possible and fair to all the players involved. I think Kilkenny got 9 or 10 all stars cos they were genuinely the best hurlers at that time and i believe it should be the same at club level irrespective of how many players get it from the one club. It should not be about giving it to someone from a smaller club in recognition of their hard work and effort just so to keep everyone happy. No disrepect to the lads that got one or their clubs but i do feel its a bit devalued now.

stranded (UK) - Posts: 408 - 18/02/2009 15:42:15    210907

Stranded. I may be wrong but I think the London supporters club appointed them as its 'their' awards night not the GAA. You are right there is nothing to stop you and your 3 mates setting up and all star scheme and giving them to whoever you feel deserves them. Thats what some papers / magazines do. The GPA also have an all star team as well I believe which differs from the offical GAA all stars.

Even with the official GAA all stars you find people grumbling because sometimes for example the league winners get an all star out of political correctness. I dont think Connaught got any last year at all. Did Fulham get any all stars in 2006 when the won the intermediate championship from these people? If the selection panel named is correct then it does give an insight into what the London management see when they go watching club football.

High_Tackle (UK) - Posts: 7 - 18/02/2009 16:47:07    211031

There seems to be a lot of sulking on here. If you or your club didn't win an award get over it or retreat back to Garryowen and celebrate the one they won. They have been picked so just be happy for the guys that did win. I personally thought that Top Man (Leitrim) would win one this year though?

SeanDan (Mayo) - Posts: 21 - 18/02/2009 17:00:58    211059

I thought Bongo was a cert myself.

High_Tackle (UK) - Posts: 7 - 18/02/2009 17:10:53    211076

I am glad we received 5 awards but can clearly see why people are not happy. I am not sure how I would react if we received no awards. One thing that concerns me however is that this argument has shown that these are the London Supporters Club awards. What happens if the London County Board decide to have their own Official London GAA awards. That would result in London Supporters Club Awards and Official London GAA awards. Surely that could not happen?

Bull (Overseas) - Posts: 179 - 18/02/2009 17:48:45    211140

Looking at the list I feel that the majority of them are not controversial. I agree that Fulham should have had a least one on the list but hey I saw them many times last year and the most impressive thing about them was the fact that they played extremely well as a team rather than as any outstanding individuals. I personally thought Marty Hugues definately deserved one but any others not a cert as others seem to think! Regarding the fact that they had 7 on the London team is irrelevant as if we hand out awards on that basis why not just give it to the London team. Every one knows for one reason or another not all the best players in London play for London so at least these awards give other players an opportunity to get recognition for their hard work.

Bottom line is and Bull referred to this in his post is that it is the "London Supporters Club Awards" and they are entitled to choose whe they see fit. As two of the London management team was on the selection panel then you have to assume that there is some rationale behind the choices.

Anyway even with the Vodafone all stars people grumble at the choices so hey why not give the award winners a pat on the back and let it spur on the rest of us to try and get one next year rather than whinging on this forum. I feel for the award winners as what should be a proud moment has turned into an embarressing one. I personally say congratulations on your awards and enjoy Friday night!!

Rossa (Cork) - Posts: 60 - 19/02/2009 10:11:40    211613

THERE WOULDA BEEN A MAD RUSH  FOR SUITS FOR A FEW LADS THIS WEEK AS THEYD NEVER OF DREAMT OF GETTING AN ALLSTAR.YOU SHOULD GET AN ALLSTAR  FOR THE POSITION U PLAY WEEK IN WEEK OUT AND NOT IN SOMEONE ELSES POSITION. I THINK EVERY PLAYER IN LONDON SHOULD GET A VOTE AND MABYE THEN YOUD GET AFAIRER OUTCOME ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE AWKWARD

mucker (Donegal) - Posts: 479 - 19/02/2009 21:41:04    212508

Here here Rossa, a sensible post if ever there was one.

Demo3, stop shouting, you'll wake up someone in Ruislip if you're not careful!

Honda50 (Armagh) - Posts: 71 - 20/02/2009 11:30:06    212885

Where are all the London born players???? Anyway it's nice to see the good luck messages, accompanied by some drivel as usual, but everyone is entitled to their opinion I suppose. It's a big change from the attitude of a few weeks ago pre and post the Carlow game, which was very negative to say the least. I played for London myself, so I know what it's like to commit to training etc and then have your efforts belittled by all and sundry, and that was pre the internet! I also would have a fair insight into what some of you are saying about the future and London born players etc. I agree that they are the future, but my experience of London born players, both with club and county, is that a lot of them, but not all of them, lack the commitment and ability to really cut it at inter county level. Huge strides have been made at under age level in London, and I don't think there has ever been as many London born players given the chance of representing London as there has been this year. But the only thing that will really and truly raise their standard once they are given the chance at inter county level is to be training and playing with players who are of a higher standard and have played to a consistently high level AT HOME! I know this from first hand experience at both club and county level. If we were to take on board what some lads are suggesting on here with regard to the county team, then we would make the clubs in London play with only London born players, as surely there are London born players with some clubs here who are being prevented from developing into good players because of the presence of players from home playing in London, when I think that standards are actually being raised with both club and county because of these players. These players from home who decide to come to London for whatever reason and duration, added to a good management/coaching set up at both club and county level, are what is needed to really make improvements in London, and it is slowly beginning to happen. Look at the amount of London born lads playing with Tara and St Kiernans, the wheel is turning, albeit slowly. There have been an enormous amount of London born lads given their chance with London over the past 4/5 years in particular. Some of these lads were worth their chance, some arguably were not.

TheReaper (Dublin) - Posts: 112 - 20/02/2009 14:10:48    213170

The London All Stars are a joke in my opinion....never picked fair and not even close to a fair reflection of the season....why are people getting worked up....they are rubbish.

IrishRover (Fermanagh) - Posts: 488 - 20/02/2009 16:50:33    213477

is jim clair's all star team the right all star team ?? any views ??

tomdickharry (None) - Posts: 35 - 20/02/2009 21:30:51    213950