Finalists dominate with 22 All Stars

AT the Players' All Stars awards, sponsored by Powerscreen, in Dublin last night, All Ireland finalists took 22 of the 30 places on the two teams. Wexford captain, Martin Storey, was voted Hurler of the Year and Meath's Trevor Giles added the players' Footballer of the Year award to the like honour he received from the GAA Writers earlier this month.

All Ireland hurling champions Wexford won the greatest number of awards with seven, followed by defeated hurling finalists Limerick and both football finalists Mayo and Meath with five.

An unusual aspect of the football selection was that five of the players are currently under suspension. Under the rules of the scheme, players are no longer disbarred from winning an award - regardless of the length of suspension.

In the aftermath of the All Ireland final replay, it was likely that a number of award winners would find themselves in this position. Four of the suspensions relate to the punishments imposed by the GAA's Games Administration Committee after the replay: Darren Fay, John McDermott and Trevor Giles are all roughly half way through serving two month suspensions.

Mayo's Liam McHale is suspended until tomorrow night after being sent off in the replayed final. He will play in Sunday's Church & General National League match against Louth. Tyrone's goalkeeper Finbarr McConnell is serving a suspension arising from a recent club match.

GAA president Jack Boothman referred to the suspended players in his speech to the awards' banquet. Of course, under former schemes, some of you would not have the pleasure of my company, charm and wit here tonight. But that is another story, a situation that has been dealt with and, I hope, a situation in respect of which lessons were learned."

The Players' awards, now in their second year, were selected by a nationwide poll of all senior inter county players with over 70 per cent of the electorate voting. Nominations were based on performances in the senior inter county championships, the National Leagues, Railway Cups and All Ireland club championships.

This year's awards bring to eight the number of counties honoured in football since the Players' awards started last year whereas seven counties have been represented in the hurling.

Neither of the Players of the Year from 12 months ago - Tyrone's Peter Canavan and Clare's Brian Lohan - retained their award but both were selected on their respective teams.

Tyrone, who were quite disappointed to have only received two awards last year, have managed the same total again this year despite having had a far less satisfying year although they did become the first county in 20 years to retain the Ulster title.

Other winners are Maurice Fitzgerald from Kerry, who won their first Munster championship since 1991, Dublin's Paul Curran and Joe Brolly of National Football League winners Derry.

In hurling, an even greater proportion of the awards went to the All Ireland finalists with champions Wexford picking up seven and Limerick five.

The remaining selections honoured Brian Lohan, Tom Helebert of league winners Galway and the youngest winner of the night, 19 year old Liam Cahill from Munster finalists Tipperary.