2011 GAA GPA Hurling All Stars sponsored by Opel named

The GAA and the GPA in conjunction with sponsors Opel are delighted to announce the 2011 GAA GPA Hurling All-Stars. The team is as follows;

Goalkeeper

1. Gary Maguire (Dublin)

 

Full backs

2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)

3. Paul Curran (Tipperary)

4. Michael Cahill (Tipperary)

 

Half backs

5. Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)

6. Brian Hogan (Kilkenny)

7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)

 

Midfielders

8. Liam Rushe (Dublin)

9. Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny)

 

Half forwards

10. Michael Rice (Kilkenny)

11. Richie Power (Kilkenny)

12. Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)

 

Full forwards

13. John Mullane (Waterford)

14. Lar Corbett (Tipperary)

15. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)

 

Reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny lead the way with eight awards followed by finalists Tipperary who receive four. Dublin (2) and Waterford (1) complete the line up.

Henry Shefflin establishes a new record receiving his 10th award. He won his first award in 2000 and his ninth in 2009 brought him level with Pat Spillane (in the 1976-1986 period) and D.J. Carey (1991-2002).

 

Last year, Tommy Walsh equalled the record of eight-in-a-row (picking up awards in five different positions – the first four at midfield, left corner-back, left half-forward, left half-back and the last four at right half-back) and his award this year sets a new record for consecutive awards.

The first time winners are Gary Maguire, Paul Murphy, Michael Cahill, Brian Hogan, Liam Rushe and Richie Hogan.

 

Dublin’s season is acknowledged by having two players in the selection for the first time since the inception of the scheme in 1971.

 

The county’s previous winners were Mick Bermingham (1971), Brian McMahon (1990) and Alan McCrabbe (2009).

 

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana congratulated the 2011 award recipients, the first hurling winners under the new joint scheme between the GAA and the GPA.

 

He said: “The excellence of Kilkenny and Tipperary has once again been acknowledged in the selection of the 15 players who make the cut for this year’s selection. The strides made by Dublin are also evident with two players included in the line up and John Mullane’s consistency is once again underlined with another award.

 

“Within Kilkenny’s haul of eight the personal feats of both Henry Shefflin and Tommy Walsh remind us that we are witnessing first-hand the skills of players who are as good as any that have played the game.

 

“I congratulate all of the players who won awards and I would like to thank the GPA and CEO Dessie Farrell in particular for helping us to bring the two awards schemes together.

 

“A special word of thanks is also due to Opel and their MD Dave Sheeran whose support of the awards has been an integral part in our success in bringing two schemes together for the first time ever”.

 

GPA CEO Dessie Farrell added: “Congratulations to the 15 hurlers chosen on this year’s GAA GPA All-Star team sponsored by Opel. While players understand the importance of the collective effort of a team it is nonetheless a very prestigious honour for the individual hurler to be recognised for his consistent contribution to that effort during the season. This year’s winners are of course unique as they are the first recipients of the joint awards and I’d like to thank our sponsors Opel and in particular MD of Opel Ireland, Dave Sheeran, for his generous support of the new scheme. Dave and Opel are long-time supporters of players and we are extremely grateful that they have helped us to merge the two schemes successfully. Thanks also to Christy Cooney, Paraic Duffy and the GAA for embracing the joint awards with great enthusiasm and we look forward to continuing to work together on the scheme in the future. Also thanks to the committee of journalists for carrying out the difficult work of selecting the 2011 Hurling Team and for putting forward the nominees for the Player of the Year awards which will be chosen by the players and announced on tonight’s live broadcast on RTÉ television.”

 

Dave Sheeran MD Opel Ireland said: “Opel is proud of our association with Gaelic games and we are delighted to honour the first GAA GPA All-Star Hurling All-Stars, sponsored by Opel. Congratulations to all the players on their hard work during the season and for winning this prestigious accolade. We look forward to meeting the team and announcing the All-Star Hurler of the Year at the Awards Gala Night in the Convention Centre Dublin tonight.”

For further information contact GAA Communications Manager, Alan Milton at alan.milton@gaa.ie or 01 8658615 or Seán Potts, GPA Head of Communications on 01 8575686 or at press@gaelicplayers.com.

Note: The 2011 GAA GPA Football All-Stars sponsored by Opel will be announced on live broadcast on RTÉ One Television on Friday, October 21st at 7pm along with the Player of the Year Awards, Young Player of the Year Awards and the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cup Player of the Year Awards.

Confirmation of the winners along with photography from Sportsfile will be distributed to the media at 8pm.