Tyrone players dominate football nominations

No fewer than 14 of Tyrone's All-Ireland winning heroes are included in the Vodafone All Star Football Nominations announced …

No fewer than 14 of Tyrone's All-Ireland winning heroes are included in the Vodafone All Star Football Nominations announced this evening.

Having won the Sam Maguire for the first time last month, Micky Harte's side make up the bulk of the 45 nominees in a selection that includes players from 13 counties

The nominations include 12 of Tyrone's All-Ireland starting line-up with goalkeeper John Devine one of just three players to miss out. And with five of his defender's nominated it is little wonder that Devine's position was up for grabs elsewhere. It will be occupied by either Fergal Byron (Laois), Shane Curran (Roscommon) or Enda Murphy (Kildare).

Last year's champions and this year's defeated finalists, Armagh, are represented by nine players and dominate in defence with their neighbours, having received four nominations. While the midfield duos of the big two are joined by Padraig Clancy of Laois and Galway's Kevin Walsh.

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Seven Tyrone forward's have been deemed to have made the grade - no mean feat considering Armagh's Oisin McConville was overlooked - while Limerick's Muiris Gavin and Declan Browne of Tipperary, the latter having displayed masterful form this year, are also nominated.

Tyrone captain Peter Canavan, aiming for his fifth All Star award, is one of seven nominees who picked up the accolade last year. Armagh's captain Kieran McGeeney is joined by teammates Enda McNulty, Paul McGrane and Steven McDonnell as four of the seven, while Dublin's Paddy Christie and Donegal's Kevin Cassidy may also pick up consecutive awards.

Laois have been rewarded, following their triumph as Leinster champions, with six nominations while Donegal's Sweeney brothers, Adrian and Raymond, are joined by teammates Niall McCready and Cassidy.

County-by-county breakdown:
Tyrone (14), Armagh (9), Laois (6), Donegal (4), Galway (3), Roscommon (2), Dublin (1), Fermanagh (1), Kerry (1), Kildare (1), Limerick (1), Offaly (1), Tipperary (1).

Full list of nominees:

Goalkeepers
Fergal Byron (Laois)
Shane Curran (Roscommon)
Enda Murphy (Kildare)

Defenders
Francie Bellew (Armagh)
Enda McNulty (Armagh)
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
Andrew McCann (Armagh)
Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone)
Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
Conor Gormley (Tyrone)
Ciaran Gourley (Tyrone)
Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
Niall McCready (Donegal)
Raymond Sweeney (Donegal)
Kevin Cassidy (Donegal)
Joe Higgins (Laois)
Tom Kelly (Laois)
Paddy Christie (Dublin)
Barry Owens (Fermanagh)
Declan Meehan (Galway)
Tomas O'Se (Kerry)

Midfield
Padraig Clancy (Laois)
Kevin Hughes (Tyrone)
Sean Kavanagh (Tyrone)
Philip Loughran (Armagh)
Paul McGrane (Armagh)
Kevin Walsh (Galway)

Forwards
Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
Brian McGuigan (Tyrone)
Gerard Cavlan (Tyrone)
Enda McGinley (Tyrone)
Peter Canavan (Tyrone)
Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone)
Eoin Mulligan (Tyrone)
John McEntee (Armagh)
Diarmuid Marsden (Armagh)
Steven McDonnell (Armagh)
Brian McDonald (Laois)
Ross Munnelly (Laois)
Ciaran McManus (Offaly)
Muiris Gavin (Limerick)
Declan Browne (Tipperary)
Frankie Dolan (Roscommon)
Adrian Sweeney (Donegal)
Michael Meehan (Galway)