Wouldn't it be a dull year without some kind of controversy about the GAA All Stars selections? From the first time in 1971 when the scheme was inaugurated, there have been various little upsets and rows. Before I go any farther, it is only fair that I declare that I have been directly involved in some of those. The first thing that must be said is that the original sponsors - Carrolls, the tobacco company - came on board at the behest of a number of distinguished journalists of the day, inspired by Mick Dunne, then of the much lamented Irish Press.
Carrolls were driven out of the scheme by a well-orchestrated and determined lobby who were genuinely averse to smoking.
It was then taken up by the Bank of Ireland without anyone complaining that banking might damage your health. The bank became tired of the matter in due course and when Brian Whelahan was left out of the hurling selection some few years ago, they decided that they had bigger fish to fry in Croke Park itself and Powerscreen took over. The sponsors are now Eircell. No scheme of this nature can exist without considerable input from sponsors. Yet they are never at the receiving end of the abuse which is constantly heaped on the selectors. I have frequently, within and without the selectorial process, been critical of the selections which have been made and I am making no new year resolutions in this regard.
I was a selector on the football team this year and because of a quite proper confidentiality clause will say no more about that other than to record that I am happy that no member of the selection panel acted other than in decency, honesty and integrity. My own views were listened to by my fellow selectors under the expert guidance of GAA president Joe McDonagh and I listened to other people's views. The voting was done in a completely open and uncomplicated way and democracy prevailed. Had I been alone in picking the team I would have picked a different one, but then who would believe that I would have been able to pick a universally acceptable side. Much of the criticism of the selections of both football and hurling sides is ill-informed and self-serving. The critics have no conception or experience of the manner in which the selectors approach their task. Yet some, believing that they would be better at the job, have even made overt applications to be included as selectors next year. I wish them well but warn them that they have a lot to learn. The facts are that the All Star idea stemmed from journalists - that most despised breed - and went into decline when many of the most knowledgeable and experienced were reluctant to take part in the scheme. The critics seem to ignore the fact that newspapers, radio and television stations and provincial journalists throughout the country make an enormous contribution to the scheme.
The critics seem to believe that the selection process should be limited to players of the games. Players, by the very nature of what they do, seldom see matches and could scarcely be expected to be open-minded about matches in which they or their friends and colleagues and indeed their opponents are involved.
If a selection panel of, say 12 or 15 past players, were to be appointed to select the All Stars the question would arise: who will pay for them to be sent up and down the country every playing weekend?
This cost - a hefty one too - is now borne by the newspapers, television and radio. The appointed selectors, journalists, are not paid for their efforts and have refused any fee for their expert services apart from some food and drink. They do not charge either for the abuse they get.
We live in an imperfect world and All Star selections are not immune. Who then has an ideal solution to the problem, if a problem exists?
It surely doesn't lie with the people who want to be members of the selectorial panel. The entire All Stars scheme has matured down the years. Many of the criticisms of its constitution have been valid and some have been put to rights and some others may yet be addressed.
No player has ever turned down an All Star award on the grounds that he believed that somebody else was more worthy than he. One of the most regrettable incidents in the entire scheme was the occasion when Pat Fleury of Offaly was not allowed to attend the dinner and presentation ceremony after being selected.
The reason was that between the selection process and the presentation banquet he had been sent off and was debarred for that reason under the rules of the time. That could no longer happen and that is only right. People who are antagonistic to the present set-up should beware of protesting too much. The scheme cannot exist without the pillars on which it is built - namely the input of the sports journalists involved and the sponsors; not necessarily in that order. The imprimatur of the GAA is also crucial but that can be depended upon as long as the publicity engendered remains favourable. Without that triumvirate there cannot be any All Stars scheme.
