No place for McGrath or Canning in team of year

GPA AWARDS:THE GAELIC Players Association has defended the "integrity" of its Opel hurling team of the year selection process despite the exclusion of championship top scorer Joe Canning and the young hurler of the year, Noel McGrath.

The GPA process involves nominating at least three players for specific positions before its members vote for their preferred option. At full forward, Canning was up against Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly and the eventual selection, Henry Shefflin. McGrath and Dublin’s David O’Callaghan lost out to Waterford’s John Mullane at right-corner forward.

The selection committee comprises chairman Donal O’Grady, Michael Duignan, Cyril Farrell and journalist Christy O’Connor.

“We believe the committee has maintained the integrity of the selection process and are happy to stand over the system,” said a GPA spokesman.

There are no plans to alter the current process ahead of 2010 despite the apparent flaw that sees Canning and McGrath excluded.

In a press release, O’Grady stated: “Being recognised by your fellow players is a wonderful honour for any hurler and I would like to congratulate the 15 chosen on this year’s Opel GPA hurling team.

“As a committee, we selected our three most deserving nominees for each position along with six midfielders, and the players then made the ultimate choice.”

The All Star process sees a committee of journalists pick the team with players sometimes accommodated out of position to ensure inclusion of stand-out performers.

There are a number of positional switches from both selections but just four personnel differences with JJ Delaney named ahead of Michael Walsh in defence, Shane McGrath voted into midfield instead of Dublin’s Alan McCrabbe, while in the forwards Eddie Brennan and Seamus Callanan are selected in place of Canning and McGrath.

Despite Tipperary having more initial nominations, All-Ireland champions Kilkenny have eight players in the team including hurler of the year Tommy Walsh, who is nominated for the GPA version of this award alongside Lar Corbett and Mullane.

The other seven Kilkenny men chosen are goalkeeper PJ Ryan, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell, Michael Rice, Eoin Larkin, Brennan and Shefflin.

Tipperary have five men in the team including Conor O’Mahony at centre back, Pádraic Maher at wing back, McGrath in midfield with Callanan and Corbett in the forwards.

Canning’s older brother Ollie is Galway’s sole representative at right-corner back while Mullane’s selection ensures Waterford are recognised for reaching the All-Ireland semi-final.

The GPA hurler and footballer of the year will be announced at the awards night on Friday, November 6th in the Citywest hotel. The chosen football team will be announced next Tuesday.