Galway dominates All-Star nominations

Galway’s hurlers dominate the shortlist for the 2012 GAA GPA Hurling All-Star awards, released today.

An astonishing 14 Galway hurlers have been nominated for awards, with the Tribesmen receiving the full complement of three nominations in the full back, half back and half forward categories, two in the full forward category and one nomination for goalkeeper James Skehill. 

As well as receiving an All-Star nomination, Galway’s talismanic forward Joe Canning has also been nominated for the Hurler of the Year award.

However he will face stiff competition from his Kilkenny counterpart Henry Shefflin, whose performances against the Tribesmen, particularly in the drawn All-Ireland final, have earned him a nomination.

Loughrea clubman Johnny Coen is up for the Young Hurler of the Year award for his defensive heroics throughout the championship season alongside forward Niall Burke.

Unsurprisingly, Kilkenny also features high on the list with 12 nominations. Semi-finalists Tipperary have six and Galway’s semi-final opponents, Cork, have four.

The Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards will be selected by the inter-county playing body and will be announced alongside the 15-man All-Star selection, live on RTÉ television on Friday 26 October.

The full list of nominations:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Nash (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick), James Skehill (Galway).

Full Backs: Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Johnny Coen (Galway), Fergal Moore (Galway), Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny), Richie McCarthy (Limerick), Michael Cahill (Tipperary), Kevin Hynes (Galway), Shane O'Neill (Cork).

Half backs: Brian Hogan (Kilkenny), Brendan Bugler (Clare), Padraic Maher (Tipperary), David Collins (Galway), Michael Walsh (Waterford), Tony Óg Regan (Galway), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Niall Donoghue (Galway), Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny).

Midfielders: Andy Smith (Galway), Kevin Moran (Waterford), Stephen Molumphy (Waterford), Pa Cronin (Cork), Iarla Tannian (Galway), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny).

Half Forwards: Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Cyril Donnellan (Galway), Niall Burke (Galway), Patrick Bonnar Maher (Tipperary), TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Pa Bourke (Tipperary), Damien Hayes (Galway), Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin), Richie Power (Kilkenny).

Full forwards: Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Joe Canning (Galway), Noel McGrath (Tipperary), Patrick Horgan (Cork), John Mullane (Waterford), Brian O'Meara (Tipperary), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), John Conlon (Clare), David Burke (Galway).

Nominations for Hurler of the Year

Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)

Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)

Joe Canning (Galway)

Nominations for Young Hurler of the Year

Johnny Coen (Galway)

Niall Burke (Galway)

Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin)