Rebels lead hurling All-Stars

The cream of Cork's All-Ireland winning panel has risen to the top again with six Rebels selected in the 2005 Vodafone GAA All-Star hurling team, which was revealed tonight.

Cork defender Diarmuid O'Sullivan will collect his fourth All-Star award at Friday night's gala banquet, which is being broadcast live on RTE 2 (8.00pm), while his county team mates - Pat Mulcahy, John Gardiner, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Jerry O'Connor and Ben O'Connor - have also been selected on the XV. 

Centre half-back Gardiner's All-Star is his first and richly deserved after the Na Piarsaigh youngster scooped both the GPA and Irish Daily Star/Waterford Crystal Hurler of the Year awards in recent weeks.

The nod for Ó hAilpín at left half-back is a third straight All-Star honour for this year's Cork captain. Tommy Walsh will also pick up his third All-Star gong on Friday, while Walsh's Kilkenny team mate Henry Shefflin will bag his fifth award since 2000. 

Incredibly, the versatile Walsh, who has been selected at left half-forward, already boasts All-Stars at both midfield (2003) and left corner back (2004). Shefflin, the Cats' attacker-in-chief in the '05 championship with a haul of 3-37, is now one All-Star behind Tipperary great Nicky English. Shefflin's legendary Kilkenny colleague DJ Carey holds the current record with nine.  

Beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway gained their highest All-Star representation since 2001 with four players included on the '05 team. Three of them - Derek Hardiman, Ger Farragher, the championship's overall top scorer (3-57), and Damien Hayes - are first-time winners. 

Two sets of brothers have been honoured - including the first twins. Cork's Jerry O'Connor wins his second consecutive award and is joined on the team by his twin Ben, the Rebels' All-Ireland-winning skipper in 2004.

The Kelly brothers from Mullinahone, Paul and Eoin, will share the stage once again this year when they collect their awards on Tipperary's behalf.

Meanwhile, Clare's veteran net minder Davy Fitzgerald, who has been the Banner's number one since 1989, saw off Cork stopper Donal Og Cusack, amongst others, for the highly-competitive goalkeeping All-Star.

In all, six of last year's award winners - O'Sullivan, O'hAilpin, Walsh, Shefflin, Eoin Kelly and Jerry O'Connor - have been selected again. 

The All-Star hurlers of 2004 and 2005 will fly to Asia on Wednesday, January 18 for the annual Vodafone All-Stars tour - the highlight of which will be an exhibition game, played between the two selections, at the Singapore Polo Grounds on Saturday, January 21.

2005 VODAFONE GAA ALL-STAR HURLING TEAM:

Goalkeeper - Davy Fitzgerald (Clare)
Right Corner Back - Pat Mulcahy (Cork)
Full-Back - Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cork)
Left Corner Back - Ollie Canning (Galway)
Right Half-Back - Derek Hardiman (Galway)
Centre Half-Back - John Gardiner (Cork)
Left Half-Back - Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork)
Midfield - Jerry O'Connor (Cork)
Midfield - Paul Kelly (Tipperary)
Right Half-Forward - Ben O'Connor (Cork)
Centre Half-Forward - Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)
Left Half-Forward - Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
Right Corner Forward - Ger Farragher (Galway)
Full-Forward - Eoin Kelly (Tipperary)
Left Corner Forward - Damien Hayes (Galway)