Kilkenny full backs are overlooked

Players' awards/ Hurling nominations: All-Ireland and National Hurling League champions Kilkenny have received nine nominations, to Cork's 13, in the GPA Opel shortlist for team of the year. Remarkably, only one Kilkenny defender, Tommy Walsh, was selected.

Cork received a nomination in every line, but the selectors, former Cork manager Donal O'Grady, Cyril Farrell, Dominic McKinley and Michael Duignan, could find no space for a Kilkenny man in the full-back line. JJ Delaney, although he missed the final through injury, Michael Kavanagh and full back Noel Hickey are notable absentees.

Forty-five players were selected. Galway, All-Ireland finalists in 2005, received just one nomination, Damien Hayes, Wexford one (Keith Rossiter) while Dublin players were excluded entirely. Westmeath's Andrew Mitchell is competing with Eoin Larkin and Martin Comerford for the number 12 slot.

Commenting on the announcement, O'Grady, chairman of the hurling selection committee, said: "These nominations include what the hurling selection committee considered to be the three best players in each position which they occupied during the course of the year. This is an opportunity for players to recognise individual ability and endeavour on the field of play, and to acknowledge the premier occupants of the respective on-field positions during the season."

Players who make the team, which is voted on by GPA members, will receive €2,500, while the player of the year drives away in a Opel car valued at €25,000.

The five players to be considered for player of the year are: Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Donal Óg Cusack (Cork), Ronan Curran (Cork), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) and James Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny).

The awards ceremony takes place in Citywest Hotel on November 10th and will be televised on Setanta Sports at a later date.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power bookmakers have made Kieran Donaghy the runaway favourite to be voted GPA footballer of the year by his peers next month. Donaghy is 1 to 5, while Darragh Ó Sé (5 to 1), Ciarán McDonald (7 to 1) and Ronan Clarke (33 to 1) are given little hope.