Kilkenny lead the Hurling All Stars nominees

Kilkenny's all-conquering hurlers, as expected, dominate the list of nominees released today for Vodafone GAA All Stars awards for 2006.

A total of 13 of their players who brought the county league, provincial and All-Ireland success are nominated for awards. The winners will be announced live on RTÉ at the All Stars banquet on November 24th in Dublin's City West Hotel.

Nine counties are represented on the list with eleven Cork players included. An eye-catching inclusion is that of the hugely talented Laois forward James Young who is named amongst the nine players nominated at half forward.

Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin is again nominated and could pick up his sixth award this year.

The record number of All Star awards is jointly held by his former teammate DJ Carey and former Kerry football star Pat Spillane.

Tommy Walsh, who has won awards as a defender, midfielder and forward, is once again nominated in the defence.

Nine of last year's hurling All Stars - Davy Fitzgerald, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, John Gardiner, Jerry O'Connor, Ben O'Connor, Shefflin, Walsh, Eoin Kelly and Damien Hayes - are again nominated.

The county breakdown is: Kilkenny (13), Cork (11), Waterford (8), Clare (5), Tipperary (4), Laois (1), Galway (1), Offaly (1), Limerick (1).

Vodafone GAA All Star hurling nominees:
Goalkeepers: Donal Og Cusack (Cork), Davy Fitzgerald (Clare), James McGarry (Kilkenny)
 
Full Backs: Brian Murphy (Cork), Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cork), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), Eoin Murphy (Waterford), Tom Feeney (Waterford), Paul Curran (Tipperary), Frank Lohan (Clare), Damien Reale (Limerick)
 
Half Backs: Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), James Ryall (Kilkenny), John Tennyson (Kilkenny), Ken McGrath (Waterford), Tony Browne (Waterford), Ronan Curran (Cork), John Gardiner (Cork), Eamon Corcoran (Tipperary), Sean McMahon (Clare)
 
Midfield: Jerry O'Connor (Cork), Tom Kenny (Cork), Derek Lyng (Kilkenny), James Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny), Shane McGrath (Tipperary), Dave Bennett (Waterford)
 
Half Forwards: Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Dan Shanahan (Waterford), Michael Walsh (Waterford), Niall McCarthy (Cork), Ben O'Connor (Cork), Tony Carmody (Clare), James Young (Laois)
 
Full Forwards: Joe Deane (Cork), Brian Corcoran (Cork), Martin Comerford (Kilkenny), Aidan Fogarty (Kilkenny), Tony Griffin (Clare), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) Damien Hayes (Galway), John Mullane (Waterford), Joe Bergin (Offaly)