The Mayo News has today published the shortlist for this year’s Club Stars Team of the Year, which the paper co-sponsors with O’Neill’s. A total of 32 players feature on this year’s shortlist, with nine different clubs represented, including three intermediate level ones who supply five ‘wild card’ nominees.
As expected, newly-crowned county champions Castlebar Mitchels head the list with ten nominations, while beaten finalists Breaffy have nine. Beaten semi-finalists Knockmore have four on the list while fellow penultimate round losers Charlestown have two. Last year’s champions Ballaghaderreen and the 2010/11 champs Ballintubber have one each. Intermediate champions Kiltane account for the bulk of the wild card nominations with three, while Kilmaine and Moy Davitts have the other two. Full details of this year’s shortlist are here.
The Mayo News/O’Neill’s Team of the Year, comprising a starting fifteen and five replacements, will be announced at the annual banquet which will be held in Westport’s Knockranny House Hotel on Saturday, 7th December. Tickets for this event, which is now in its ninth year, cost €60 and are available by calling (098) 25311.
Meanwhile, the Mayo News is also reporting today that Danny Kirby – who, as you might expect, is one of the ten Mitchels’ nominees above – is almost certain to miss his club’s Connacht semi-final clash with Galway champions Corofin this coming Sunday. This is because of a straight red he received playing for the club in last Friday’s U21 ‘A’ final against Moy Davitts, for which he’s expected to receive a four-week suspension.
It’s a bit rough on Castlebar, to be honest, for a player who was red-carded at one level to be suspended at another but such is the weird and wonderful world of GAA discipline. The Mitchels were already facing an uphill battle playing with a full deck – Paddy Power have Corofin at 3/10 for this one – but without Four-Goal Danny their task is likely to be even more difficult at Tuam Stadium next Sunday.
Bit strange seeing Richie Feeney nominated as a back. everytime i saw Castlebar this year he was playing as a forward with a similar remit to Mark McHugh in 2012.
Welcome back WJ…..you’ve been quiet there for a while…
Jeez that is tough on Kirby and Mitchels alright…seems odd that he would be suspended, even though a different code and competition. Could they not appeal?
On another note, a happy one at that….I booked me season “tickets” this morning…very pumped. 🙂
No appeal I’m afraid! The red card carries onto all inter club fixtures. It doesn’t carry onto inter county and vice versa.
Different grade silly that sending off is carried into senior level.
Mike……….First time I saw Feeney in the County jersey, I think he was a ‘roving’ FB or HB, and I thought that position suited him.
id fully agree, the point I was making is that Mark McHugh didnt receive an all-star in the half backs from what I remember. Feeney was a forward all year who basically acted as a third midfielder. Same as with the All-Stars I think moving players around just dilutes the whole thing. A perfect example is seeing Cian O’Sullivan and Sean Cavanagh nominated in positions they did not play this year
No sympathy for Danny, he headbutted another player for God’s sake, that is ridiculous and he deserves his punishment. He let his team down (he was captain of the U21s remembers) big time.
Makes the Mitchel’s job that bit harder on Sunday. Very disappointing.
Apparently James H was at that game also. That will do DK no favours.