Kilkenny and Tyrone players in line to claim top awards

PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS:THE GAA Player of the Year awards, sponsored by Vodafone, in hurling and football will go to a new recipient this year following the announcement yesterday of the shortlist of nominees.

While the shortlist for the senior awards does not include any previous winners, the odds on players from All-Ireland hurling and football champions Kilkenny and Tyrone, respectively, taking the laurels must have shortened considerably after the announcement of nominees.

Both counties have two of the three nominees in their respective codes, with Kilkenny's Eddie Brennan and Eoin Larkin joining Waterford star Eoin Kelly in the nominations for the hurling award, while Tyrone's Brian Dooher and Seán Cavanagh are nominated alongside Kerry's Colm Cooper for the football equivalent.

Last year's footballer of the year was Marc Ó Sé, while Dan Shanahan won the hurling award.

For Larkin the nomination comes just days after he was nominated for his first All Star award. All other nominees for the player of the year, in both codes, have already been selected as All Stars in recent years.

In the young player of the year category, there will be few surprises at the hurling nominees, with Cathal Naughton of Cork, Joe Canning of Galway and Séamus Callinan of Tipperary shortlisted. All three are also shortlisted for All Stars. In football, Limerick's Ian Ryan and Laois's Johnny O'Loughlin will be hoping to give their counties a first young player award in the code but will have stiff competition from All Star nominee Tommy Walsh of Kerry.

The winners will be announced live on television at a banquet at Dublin's Citywest Hotel on October 17th.

2008 Nominees

Hurler of the Year

Eddie Brennan Kilkenny

Eoin Kelly Waterford

Eoin Larkin Kilkenny

Young Hurler of the Year

Cathal Naughton Cork

Joe Canning Galway

Séamus Callinan Tipperary

Footballer of the Year

Brian Dooher Tyrone

Colm Cooper Kerry

Seán Cavanagh Tyrone

Young Footballer

Ian Ryan Limerick

Johnny O'Loughlin Laois

Tommy Walsh Kerry