Former Dublin footballer Ciarán Whelan insists that Stephen Cluxton will not be bothered by missing out on an All-Star award.
The team was announced today with Monaghan's Rory Beggan selected in the goalkeeper position.
"The talk is that it wasn’t even close, which is a worrying thing as well in terms of the votes," Whelan told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland.
"If you call a spade a spade, Stephen hasn’t engaged closely with the media over the last nine or ten years and you wonder if that has come against him.
"It’s disappointing. The only thing is it won’t bother him, he will push on and go for another All-Ireland.
The Dublin captain hasn’t been selected on the team since 2013, despite being captain of Dublin’s four-in-a-row team and the vital role he plays for Dublin.
"He has been hugely influential in everything that is good about Dublin, he was cool and calm in the All-Ireland final second half.
"He had a 100% return on his kick outs, it’s hard to believe at times the way he has been treated over the last three or four years when he hasn’t been in the team.
"I find it difficult to understand how Cluxton hasn't won an All-Star in the last four years" - @whelo35 and @MartyM_RTE debate the 2018 Football All-Star team pic.twitter.com/VZfmAk2YF2
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 1, 2018
The midfield pairing of Brian Howard and Brian Fenton is a historic one as both players come from the same club for the first time.
Whelan is also a Raheny man - a former All-Star midfielder at that - and is very proud to see his two club mates honoured.
"It’s historic, a special day for Raheny GAA, they have become known as the two Brians around the place.
"For them both to be selected on the one team in midfield in a special team that have won four-in-a-row, it’s great recognition for the club and for both of them, they are both fantastic.
"Brian Howard, it’s his first year really stepping up to the senior plate and he performed fantastically well throughout the year and Fenton was brilliant as he has been over the last three or four years, he kicked 1-13 well deserved and a special day for the club."
Follow the PwC All-Star Awards 2018 this Friday via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport or the News Now app, or watch live coverage on RTÉ One from 7pm.
