Loughnane criticises Fitzgerald omission

Clare hurling manager Ger Loughnane last night voiced his dismay at the 1999 All Star hurling committee's failure to acknowledge the performance of goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald with a place on the team, which was announced yesterday.

Fitzgerald had been hotly tipped for his second award prior to receiving a suspension from the Munster Council five weeks ago which threw a question mark over his eligibility. However, the committee stressed that while the Clare man had been considered for the position, it was felt that Cork's Donal Og Cusack had given a superior display.

"I think it's farcical. I think that 99 per cent of the country felt that Davy was the best 'keeper over the year and no matter what they say, the reason he didn't get an award is over that suspension. They should just have come out and say he wasn't considered because of the suspension but, of course, that would have taken a bit of courage," said Loughnane.

"This is not to cast any aspersions on Donal Cusack who is a very fine 'keeper but there have been very few goalkeepers in any season who have turned games the way Davy did this year. I feel that he ranks alongside Ger Cunningham as one of the greatest 'keepers of this era but despite giving seven years of great service, he has only one All Star reward, which is a poor return. I'm sure he'll be disappointed by this," he added.

Still, Donal Cusack need apologise to nobody when he accepts his award at tomorrow night's ceremony. Statistics will show that the Cork man conceded just one goal over the course of his team's All-Ireland championship triumph while Fitzgerald's goal was breached four times.

Despite the fact that Frank Lohan and Niall Gilligan have been honoured Clare's disappointment has been heightened by the omission of Ollie Baker, who had another storming year.

The inclusion of Tipperary marksman Tommy Dunne at midfield could be interpreted as a nod to his immense contribution towards the county's league triumph but it is more likely that the panel were swayed by his impact on the two-match epic against Clare, when he hit a total of 17 points. While Dunne and Kilkenny's Andy Comerford are a worthy representation of the midfield talent in the game right now, it is difficult to explain away the exclusion of Ollie Baker who, despite being curtailed with injury, gave devastating performances for both Clare and his All-Ireland winning club side St Joseph's, Doora-Barefield.

Such was the dominance of various players in certain positions over the season that some nominees were regarded as absolutes for an award before the selection procedure even began. Cork's Brian Corcoran, as universally predicted, fills the centre-half back spot and is somewhat inevitably accompanied by the peerless Brian Whelahan, who this year graces the All Star team in his customary right wing-back position.

The dominance of Cork's defence is reflected in the selection of four of their side and corner back John Browne and winger Wayne Sherlock can consider themselves unfortunate to be squeezed out.

Losing All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny are fairly represented in Peter Barry at half back, Comerford at midfield and DJ Carey and Brian McEvoy in the forward lines. Barry and Comerford probably consolidated their selections with their heroic showing in the final loss to Cork while in contrast, both Carey and McEvoy, after a summer of highs, were both off-colour on the biggest day.

Criticism of Carey, however, tends to be measured against his own genius as opposed to the prevailing standard and it would have been cruel to punish McEvoy for the one occasion on which things didn't go his way.

John Troy is Offaly's second representative and has been selected at centre-half forward. The Lusmagh man has long been acknowledged as one of hurling's true naturals but despite an illustrious career with his county - he has three Leinster and two All-Ireland senior medals - this is his first All Star. He was probably the only forward of the year to have troubled Brian Corcoran.

There are, strangely enough, 12 first-time recipients and Brian Whelahan is the only member of the 1998 team to be returned again. The Offaly player is now a four-time All Star while DJ Carey will receive his seventh award at tomorrow night's reception, which will be broadcast live on RTE. The other previous All Star is Tommy Dunne, who was chosen on the 1997 side.