ULSTER is strongly represented in this year’s nominations for the GPA football Allstars, with 17 players from the province making the shortlist of 45.
Leading the way in Ulster are beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists Tyrone, with seven nominations. Ronan McNamee, Peter Harte, Ronan McNabb and Colm Cavanagh are up for selection for the first time, while Mattie Donnelly and Cathal McCarron were also nominated in 2013.
Five-time Allstar Seán Cavanagh has the chance to join Peter Canavan as the only Ulster player with six awards, while some may question the absence of corner-forward Darren McCurry.
Ulster champions Monaghan, defeated by Tyrone in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, make do with four nominations. Goalkeeper Rory Beggan is nominated for the third year running, but has yet to pick up his first award. Karl O’Connell and Vinny Corey are also named and Conor McManus will have high hopes of winning his second Allstar.
Donegal earn five nominations despite their Ulster final loss to the Farney men and subsequent All-Ireland exit to Mayo at the quarter-final stage. Last year’s Young Player of the Year Ryan McHugh is nominated again for that particular prize, but Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor will be heavily tipped to get the nod ahead of the Donegal man and Monaghan’s Ryan Wylie.
Paul Durcan, Neil Gallagher and Michael Murphy, winners in 2012 and '14, have the chance to pocket their third Allstar. The ever-steady Frank McGlynn is going for his second after he was chosen in 2012.
Like Donegal, Fermanagh also bowed out at the quarter-final stage and can count themselves unfortunate that the Championship’s second-highest scorer Seán Quigley is their only Allstar nominee.
On a national level, All-Ireland champions Dublin, who completed a clean sweep of honours in 2015, top the shortlist with 11 nominations. They are followed by defeated All-Ireland finalists Kerry, who have eight nominations.
Dublin’s dominance is reflected in the Player of the Year nominations – Bernard Brogan, Jack McCaffrey and Philip McMahon go head-to-head for the game’s highest individual honour. Brogan, who won the award in 2010, would be the first player to win the Player of the Year award twice.
The awards will be presented at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Friday, November 6.
ALLSTAR NOMINATIONS 2015
Goalkeepers
Paul Durcan (Donegal), Brendan Kealy (Kerry), Rory Beggan (Monaghan).
Defenders
Frank McGlynn (Donegal), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), James McCarthy (Dublin), Cian O’Sullivan (Dublin), Rory O’Carroll (Dublin), Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Jack McCaffrey (Dublin), Philip McMahon (Dublin), Shane Enright (Kerry), Jonathan Lyne (Kerry), Keith Higgins (Mayo), Lee Keegan (Mayo), Chris Barrett (Mayo), Vinny Corey (Monaghan), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan), Cathal McCarron (Tyrone), Ronan McNamee (Tyrone), Ronan McNabb (Tyrone).
Midfielders
Neil Gallagher (Donegal), Brian Fenton (Dublin), Anthony Maher (Kerry), David Moran (Kerry), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone).
Forwards
Michael Murphy (Donegal), Paddy Andrews (Dublin), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Seán Quigley (Fermanagh), Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry), Paul Geaney (Kerry), James O’Donoghue (Kerry), Donie Kingston (Laois), Cillian O’Connor (Mayo), Diarmuid O’Connor (Mayo), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Conor McManus (Monaghan) Peter Harte (Tyrone), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone), Kieran Martin (Westmeath)
Player of the Year Nominations
Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Jack McCaffrey (Dublin), Philip McMahon (Dublin).
Young Player of the Year Nominations
Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Diarmuid O’Connor (Mayo), Ryan Wylie (Monaghan).
