Monaghan have six players named in the GAA/GPA Opel Football All-Star nominations. Scotstown’s Rory Beggan is up against the two goalkeepers involved in the All-Ireland final, joined by defenders Colin Walshe (Doohamlet), Drew Wylie (Ballybay) and Dessie Mone (Clontibret). Beggan’s clubmate Darren Hughes is nominated at midfield, while another Clontibret man, Conor McManus, is the only Monaghan forward to make the cut. Five of the six Monaghan players are nominated for the first time, but it is Mone’s third following 2007 and 2008.
Monaghan have the third highest representation in the list of 45 players, only behind All-Ireland finalists Dublin (12) and Mayo (10). A total of ten teams have nominees, including a historic nod for London.
The final selection will be announced live on Friday, November 8 at the All-Star banquet at Croke Park.
GAA/GPA Football All-Stars Nominations:
Goalkeepers: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin); Robert Hennelly (Mayo); Rory Beggan (Monaghan)
Full-backs: Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins, Chris Barrett (Mayo); Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie (Monaghan); Killian Clarke (Cavan); Rory O’Carroll (Dublin); Marc Ó Sé (Kerry); Cathal McCarron (Tyrone)
Half-backs: Cian O’Sullivan, James McCarthy. Jack McCaffrey (Dublin); Colm Boyle, Donal Vaughan, Lee Keegan (Mayo); James Loughrey (Cork); Dessie Mone (Monaghan); Conor Gormley (Tyrone)
Midfielders: Aidan O’Shea, Séamus O’Shea (Mayo); Michael Darragh Macauley (Dublin); Paul Conroy (Galway); Anthony Maher (Kerry); Darren Hughes (Monaghan)
Half-forwards: Paul Flynn, Ciarán Kilkenny, Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin); Colm Cooper, Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry); Seán Cavanagh, Matthew Donnelly (Tyrone); Cian Mackey (Cavan); Lorcan Mulvey (London)
Full-forwards: Bernard Brogan, Paul Mannion, Paddy Andrews (Dublin); Martin Dunne (Cavan); Colm McFadden (Donegal); James O’Donoghue (Kerry); Cillian O’Connor (Mayo); Michael Newman (Meath); Conor McManus (Monaghan)
Player of the Year Nominees: Michael Darragh Macauley, Stephen Cluxton (Dublin); Lee Keegan (Mayo)
Young Player of the Year Nominees: Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion (Dublin); Cillian O’Connor (Mayo)
By cshalvey Fri 4th Oct
