Only one Joyce included

Galway forward Tommy Joyce is the main casualty on the 2001 Eircell All-Star nominations list. The omission of the Kilererin man seems astounding, given his consistently industrious displays on Galway's marathon championship campaign.

The less heralded of the Joyce brothers does not possess the range of gifts that has made his sibling Padraig an automatic All-Star choice at full forward but he more than compensated, thriving in the deep, roving role afforded to him by John O'Mahony.

The 1998 footballer of the year, Ja Fallon, is the only other member of the All-Ireland winning 15 not to gain a nomination. Fallon's summer was ruined by injury and only in that stroll against Meath did we see flashes of the Tuam man's limitless potential.

That the beaten All-Ireland finalists Meath receive just six candidates is indicative of the fact that, in reality, the provinces count for little now. Among the absentees are playmaker Trevor Giles and his Skryne team-mate John McDermott.

Meath were Leinster champions while Galway, famously, progressed through the "back-door" after a June 3rd loss to Roscommon. Indeed, Roscommon have just one nomination, Francie Grehan, for their Connacht winning summer.

Given the way Kerry's year flatlined in the All-Ireland semi-final, they will not be unhappy with a return of six nominations, with Mike Russell and John Crowley the brightest hopes come the reckoning on November 30th.

Derry, the other beaten semi-finalists have a reasonably fair return of four, including impressive defensive newcomer Gareth Doherty. Westmeath's epic series against Meath has earned them a bountiful presence of four.

Colin Corkery's superlative display for Cork against Kerry in the Munster final sees him on the list and other lone stars are Brendan Devenney of Donegal and Eamon O'Hara of Sligo.

League champions Mayo have two candidates. The All-Star selection will be announced live on RT╔ from CityWest hotel on November 30th.

All-Star Football Nominations

GOALKEEPERS - Alan Keane (Galway); Cormac Sullivan (Meath); Declan O'Keeffe (Kerry).

DEFENDERS - Kieren Fitzgerald (Galway); Tomβs Mannion (Galway); Seβn ╙g de Paor (Galway); Gary Fahey (Galway); Richie Fahey (Galway); Declan Meehan (Galway); Mark O'Reilly (Meath); Darren Fay (Meath); Gareth Doherty (Derry); Seβn Marty Lockhart (Derry); Michael McCarthy (Kerry); SΘamus Moynihan (Kerry); Coman Goggins (Dublin); Peadar Andrews (Dublin); Ray Connelly (Mayo); Declan McCrossan (Tyrone); David Mitchell (Westmeath); Francie Grehan (Roscommon).

MIDFIELD: Kevin Walsh (Galway); Rory O'Connell (Westmeath); Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone); David Brady (Mayo); Fergal Doherty (Derry); Darragh ╙ SΘ (Kerry).

FORWARDS: Padraig Joyce (Galway); Michael Donnellan (Galway); Derek Savage (Galway); Paul Clancy (Galway); Joe Bergin (Galway); Ollie Murphy (Meath); Evan Kelly (Meath); Graham Geraghty (Meath); Ger Heavin (Westmeath); Dessie Dolan (Westmeath); John Crowley (Kerry); Mike Frank Russell (Kerry); Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone); Dessie Farrell (Dublin); Paddy Bradley (Derry); Eamon O'Hara (Sligo); Colin Corkey (Cork); Brendan Devenney (Donegal).