By Seamus Leonard
1 Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2 Marc Ó Sé (Kerry) 4 Graham Canty (Cork)
3 Kevin McCloy (Derry)
5 Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry) 7 Barry Cahill (Dublin)
6 Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry)
8 Ciarán Whelan (Dublin) 9 Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry)
10 Stephen Bray (Meath) 12 Alan Brogan (Dublin)
11 Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry)
13 Colm Cooper (Kerry) 15 Thomas Freeman (Monaghan)
14 Paddy Bradley (Derry)
1 Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
After conceding just two goals in six Championship games, this is the Parnells goalkeeper's third All Star award. Arguably, he is still the best shot-stopper at inter-county level, although Meath's Brendan Murphy is not far off. However, Cluxton's kick-outs were questionable in the semi-final defeat to Kerry. There was a big fuss made by a lot of people (Dublin, or otherwise) about the incident in that game were the 'keeper, who now has four Leinster medals to his name, left his goal and spent a good deal of time with the ball in his possession before kicking straight to a Kerry man. The truth of that matter is that Cluxton was left high and dry by his team-mates who did not look for the ball off him. If nothing else, his selection is a rebuke of the ill-judged criticism he received for that.
2 Marc Ó Sé (Kerry)
Marc Ó Sé retains the number two jersey in the All Star line-up to notch up his second award. Not only that, but his consistent performances have earned him the Player of the Year award. Any player who wins that award deserves recognition. A player who can win it despite playing at corner-back in the first team in 17 years to successfully defend the Sam Maguire probably deserves two trophies. The An Ghaeltacht clubman is strong, fast and – like everyone in the current Kingdom set-up - has an insatiable thirst for success. His attributes have now earned him four Muster and three All-Ireland medals.
3 Kevin McCloy (Derry)
The Lavey clubman is a surprise inclusion in that his county did not win any title and even failed to reach the last four. However, his selection proves that the committee is spreading a wider net, which is a development that must be welcomed. It was a mixed year for the Oak Leafers. They were slated in some quarters for their Ulster Championship exit at the hands of Monaghan, but they regrouped and tore through the qualifiers before going down by four points to Dublin in a quarter-final they had the chances to win. McCloy, who played only a week after having surgery on a broken finger, was Man of the Match that day in Croke Park. Meath's Darren Fay is entitled to feel that his comeback warranted an All Star.
4 Graham Canty (Cork)
The only player from All-Ireland finalists Cork to make the cut. The Bantry Blues man had a mediocre game against Kerry in the All-Ireland final, but did enough in Cork's other six games to seal his place. Graham Canty's year was even more impressive when put in the context that he tore a cruciate knee ligament in last year's Munster final replay. The high point of his and the Rebels' year was when they tamed Meath's much-vaunted full-forward line in the All-Ireland semi-final. The Cork full-back failed to add to his tidy collection of two Munster senior medals this year, but his first All Star award should help heal the wounds of two defeats to Kerry.
5 Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry)
By far and away the best number five in the country again this year, Tomás Ó Sé racks up his third All Star award for his contribution to Kerry's 35th All-Ireland SFC success. The 29-year-old's ability to get forward and on to the scoresheet was evident again, but his experience was a vital factor in the Kingdom being able to cope with the loss through retirement of Mike McCarthy and Seamus Moynihan. He has now accumulated four All-Ireland and six Munster senior, an All-Ireland U-21 and two NFL medals.
6 Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry)
As mentioned above, Seamus Moynihan's retirement left Kerry with the headache of trying to replace one of the best players to play the game in the last 15 years. Rather than trying to be too clever, new Kerry boss Pat O'Shea decided to move Aidan O'Mahony over from left half-back and the problem was soon solved. O'Mahony was named Man of the Match in the 2006 All-Ireland final for his marking of Ciaran McDonald. This is the Rathmore man's second consecutive All Star award.
7 Barry Cahill (Dublin)
A first All Star award for the St Brigid's clubman who, along with David Henry, was exceptional in the Dubs' rearguard this season. Cahill has operated across the full-back line for the Metropolitans in the past, but the wing-back position seems to suit his talents best. Offering more in an attacking sense than in previous years, he has been an integral part of Dublin's three successive Leinster Championship victories. Like in the hurling awards, Kerry's Killian Young may have been passed over due to his winning of the Young Player of the Year award.
8 Ciarán Whelan (Dublin)
When Ciarán Whelan collected his first All Star in 1999 it would have been hard for him to believe that eight years later he would still be chasing an elusive All-Ireland medal. He is a perennial All Star nominee, but, in truth, has not deserved another award up to this point. He has been plagued by a tendency to drift in and out of games and a questionable temperament throughout his career. However, he was brilliant this year, but was maybe hindered by Dublin manager Paul Caffrey's decision to leave Shane Ryan in midfield when his effectiveness there had worn off. Cork's Nicholas Murphy would probably have retained the award had he not been cleaned out in the All-Ireland final.
9 Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry)
A vintage year for the An Ghaeltacht midfielder ends with his fourth All Star award. It is a particularly special award given that his two brothers are also named in the XV. Darragh Ó Sé has not always been the flavour of the month since joining the Kingdom panel in 1994, but his legendary status is cemented now after he collected his ninth Munster and fifth All-Ireland senior medals to go along with his two NFL accolades. He has now received four All Stars, and he keeps his place from last year's selection.
10 Stephen Bray (Meath)
Although he starred at corner-forward in Meath's run to the semi-final, Stephen Bray was moved out the field in the nominations process on account of the competition for full-forward line places. This has allowed the Navan O'Mahonys clubman to take his place at the All Star table. Meath's other corner-forward, Brian Farrell, was the talk of the town after the Royals' NFL Division 2 triumph, but it was Bray who emerged as the ace marksman for Colm Coyle's side. And along with Farrell and newcomer Shane O'Rourke, Meath were blessed with one of the most dangerous inside-forward lines going. Bray's most memorable performance was against Galway when his 2-02 helped put paid to a highly fancied Tribesmen outfit.
11 Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry)
2007 saw Declan O'Sullivan become the first man since Dublin's Tony Hanahoe in 1977 to lift the Sam Maguire two years in-a-row. The Kingdom's captain also dispelled any lingering doubts with a series of sterling performances on the '40'. Most importantly though, the Dromid Pearse man chipped in with crucial goals against Dublin and Monaghan to help his side into an ultimately one-sided final against Cork. His goal against Monaghan was particularly vital because, without it, the Farney would almost certainly have caused the upset of the year. He now has three All-Ireland, three Munster and two NFL medals in his cabinet.
12 Alan Brogan (Dublin)
The All Star selections always cause debate, but the selection of Alan Brogan will no doubt bring about claims of a Dublin bias. - and rightly so. Brogan had a good year, but his contribution to the Metropolitans' cause could hardly be construed as more valuable than Paul Galvin's to Kerry or Anthony Moyles' to Meath. Galvin's ill-discipline may have contributed to him being overlooked, but Moyles' transformation from centre-back to centre-forward was the catalyst for Meath's progress through a tricky qualifier campaign. For Brogan, it is his second All Star in two years to add to the fourth Leinster medal he collected this summer.
13 Colm Cooper (Kerry)
Four All Stars in six seasons of football and the Dr Crokes man is still only 24! He scored 1-05 in his Man of the Match display in the All-Ireland final. The 'Gooch' did not have a great 2006 – despite playing his part in Kerry's Sam Maguire triumph - but bounced back this year in terrific style. He is almost impossible to stop, and his ability to kick points off both feet makes him a nightmare for defenders to read. Unselfishness is another of his attributes and his willingness to lay the ball off to team-mates in a better position is an example to all. Cooper is the proud holder of three All-Ireland and four Munster senior medals.
14 Paddy Bradley (Derry)
Another surprise choice by the selection committee, though his inclusion will not court as much controversy as Brogan's. Kerry's Kieran Donaghy returned to his best form in the latter stages of the Championship but not before hitting a slump in what many put down to 'second season syndrome'. However, it could easily be argued that the Austin Stacks man's two-goal salvo in the All-Ireland final would have done enough to earn last year's Footballer of the Year another All Star award. In saying that, few will bemoan Bradley's selection, as the Glenullin man has done more than enough in his time with the Oak Leafers to earn an All Star. He is one of the top dead ball specialists in the game and also has an uncanny eye for goal. His scoring prowess was largely responsible for the Ulster side's progression to last eight. His season threatened to be overshadowed by a 12-week suspension early in the summer, but he was successful on appeal.
15 Thomas Freeman
Monaghan are justly rewarded for their fabulous summer with one All Star award, and no one in the Farney ranks deserves it more than Thomas Freeman. Freeman and his fellow corner-forward Ciaran Hanratty tormented defences in Ulster and beyond and gave Tyrone a serious game in the Ulster final. Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney then pulled a masterstroke by moving Vincent Corey up to full-forward and the switch paid dividends as they reached an All-Ireland quarter-final where only a late charge by Kerry denied Monaghan a famous victory. The diminutive Freeman was instrumental in everything good that his side did, and it is no surprise that Kerry's comeback coincided with Freeman picking up an injury.
