| Gael sportstalk
By Larry Cooney
The annual All-Star selections have once again attracted more than their
share of controversy and unwanted publicity. However until the selection
criteria becomes much more rigid certain selections are bound to raise eyebrows
among the critics.
In hurling most of the attention focused around the selection of goalkeeper
Davy Fitzgerald in preference to Cork’s Donal Og Cusack. There is no doubt
the Cork goalkeeper had an exceptional year and his crucial All-Ireland
final performance appeared to have secured him the No.1 jersey on this year’s
All-Stars.
However I believe Wexford’s Damien Fitzhenry and Kilkenny’s James McGarry
are perhaps even more unlucky not to have gained an All-Star after their
long distinguished careers for their counties. I suppose Fitzgerald got
the nod because of this amazingly long career at the highest level. Certainly
his save from John Leahy in the 1997 All-Ireland final secured the Banner
a deserved title that year and some of his heroics this year almost denied
Cork a back-to-back title.
The immediate reaction to the football All-Stars selection is that a
huge gulf is beginning to emerge in the standard of inter-county football
with the entire 15 being confined to just three counties. While Tyrone proved
they were worthy champions and since there was very little between Kerry
and Armagh surely some other county representatives should have come into
the selection committee’s assessment?
Perhaps the way forward is to adopt the criteria of the Christy Ring
and Nicky Rackard Cup Championship’s 15 which was so well presented at Croke
Park on Saturday evening. Every county had a representative on the team
based on the assessment of opposition managers and certainly the GAA can
look back on the introduction of the Tier Two and Tier Three hurling championships
as one of the real successes of the year. Outgoing GAA President Sean Kelly
also assured the large attendance that the format of the competitions was
going to remain in the future and that finals in Croke Park were a deserved
reward for both competition’s finalists. It was also a memorable night for
the British-based contingent with four players becoming the first overseas
recipients of such an accolade.
Domestic GAA this weekend was confined to the senior hurling league final
in London. The Wolfe Tone League final in Lancashire won by St. Peters and
the Fr. Forde Cup final won by Sean McDermotts in Warwickshire. The final
of the inaugural U-17 football final proved to be a disappointing anti-climax
with the London boys easily qualifying for Boston after a easy victory over
Yorkshire in Birmingham.
County champions Fr. Murphys completed the double with a 0-14 to 1-8
victory over St. Gabriels in the London senior league final. It proved a
useful work-out for the Murphys against a defiant Gabriels side who should
have made it harder for Jim Howlin’s men. Fr. Murphys now prepare for a
tilt at Ballinhassig (Cork) in the All-Ireland club quarter-final on Saturday
week.
Tir Chonaill Gaels warmed up for their All Ireland club quarter-final
tilt with Salthill this weekend with an easy victory over a depleted St.
Brendans in the Tipperary Cup semi-final replay.
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