2 Kildare players rewarded for outstanding years with 2017 All-Star nominations
After a season in which Kildare showed plenty of promise - and a little progress - in the championship, two of the standout players from the Lilywhites' ranks have been rewarded with All-Star nominations.
Midfielder Kevin Feely and full-forward Daniel Flynn have been named on the 45-man shortlist for the PwC All-Star Football Nominations, joining players from 10 other counties on the shortlist for the award. Recently crowned All-Ireland champions, Dublin, have the most with 13, while Mayo's long run to the championship final sees them rewarded with 12 nominations.
Feely is one of six players shortlisted for the midfield slot after he starred in defeat to Dublin in the Leinster final, alongside fine performances against Laois, Meath and Armagh. Flynn scored 2-10 from play across the four games, with his flamboyant and powerful style earning him plenty of admirers from all over the country during Kildare's campaign that ultimately ended with an All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Armagh.
The remainder of the breakdown for awards is Tyrone 6, Kerry 5, Roscommon, Kildare and Down each have 2 with Monaghan, Donegal and Armagh completing the high-profile line-up with one nomination each.
The selections were voted on by a committee made up of Gaelic Games correspondents, and chaired by Uachtarán Chumann Luthchleas Gael, Aogán Ó Fearghail.
Also announced today is the short list for this year’s Footballer of the Year and Young Footballer of the Year awards.
These overall awards will be voted on exclusively by inter county players and a decision has been taken to nominate four players for the Footballer of the Year Award instead of the traditional three names.
Dublin’s James McCarthy and Stephen Cluxton and Mayo’s David Clarke and Andy Moran are the four names in contention. The decision to settle on a final four was made so as not to prejudice what the final team selection may be.
Shortlisted for the Young Footballer of the Year prize are Dublin’s Con O’Callaghan, Cork’s Sean Powter and Galway’s Michael Daly.
The GAA and GPA have announced PwC as the new sponsors of the All-Star awards in a partnership that will run until 2020 and see the rebranding of the awards under the title of PwC All-Stars.
PwC All-Star Football Nominations
GOALKEEPERS Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), David Clarke (Mayo), Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
DEFENDERS Jack McCaffrey, Cian O’Sullivan, Michael Fitzsimons, Philip McMahon, John Small, Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Keith Higgins, Lee Keegan, Chris Barrett, Colm Boyle, Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Pádraig Hampsey, Tiernan McCann (Tyrone), Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley (Kerry), Conor Devanney (Roscommon), Caolan Mooney (Down), Fintan Kelly (Monaghan).
MIDFIELDERS James McCarthy, Brian Fenton (Dublin), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone), Enda Smith (Roscommon), Kevin Feely (Kildare).
FORWARDS Andy Moran, Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O’Shea, Jason Doherty, Cillian O’Connor (Mayo), Ciarán Kilkenny, Con O’Callaghan, Paul Mannion, Dean Rock (Dublin), Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy, James O’Donoghue (Kerry), Peter Harte, Niall Sludden (Tyrone), Connaire Harrison (Down), Patrick McBrearty (Donegal), Jamie Clarke (Armagh), Daniel Flynn (Kildare).
Footballer of the Year Nominees Stephen Cluxton (Dublin) James McCarthy (Dublin) Andy Moran (Mayo) David Clarke (Mayo)
Young Footballer of the Year Nominees Con O’Callaghan (Dublin) Seán Powter (Cork) Michael Daly (Galway)