CAVAN PRO Barney Cully said he was “surprised and disappointed” that county half-back Bernard Morris had not received an Eircell Allstar nomination after nominees for the 1997 Allstar teams were announced.
Ulster have 12 players included in the running for the football awards while in hurling only one Ulster name, that of Down’s Noel Sands, has been listed.
Ulster champions Cavan have six players shortlisted: Paul O’Dowd, Peter Reilly, Ronan Carolan, Damien O’Reilly, Dermot McCabe and Gerry Sheridan.
Cultured centre-half-back Morris was recently selected as Cavan’s Player of the Year by the county’s Dublin supporter’s branch.
“Without any disrespect to any other defenders nominated, I’m surprised and disappointed that Bernard Morris is not among them.
“I would imagine a great number of Cavan people will be equally disappointed.”
Ulster’s other nominations include Derry midfield star Anthony Tohill and team-mates Joe Brolly and Joe Cassidy.
Fermanagh’s Raymond Gallagher, who has a fantastic year with the county is named among the likes of Kerry’s Maurice Fitzgerald. All-Ireland medal winner Fitzgerald is almost certain to add to his Sam Maguire honour.
In hurling, Noel Sands is Ulster’s only representative and few would argue that there should be more given what a dismal year it has been for the sport in the north.
1997 Allstar Football nominations
Goalkeepers - Paul O’Dowd (Cavan), Declan O’Keefe (Kerry), Peter Burke (Mayo);
Defenders - Gerry Sheridan (Cavan), Frankie Griffin (Clare), Ciaran O’Sullivan (Cork), Kieran McKeever (Derry), Gary Coleman (Derry), Sean de Paor (Galway), Eamonn Breen (Kerry), Killian Burns (Kerry), Seamus Moynihan (Kerry), Liam O’Flaherty (Kerry), Barry O’Shea (Kerry), Stephen Stack (Kerry); Davy Dalton (Kildare), Glen Ryan (Kildare), Fergal Costello (Mayo), Kenneth Mortimer (Mayo), James Nallen (Mayo), Cathal Daly (Offaly);
Midfielders - Dermot McCabe (Cavan), Anthony Tohill (Derry), Willie Kirby (Kerry), Dara O Se (Kerry), Niall Buckley (Kildare), Pat Fallon (Mayo);
Forwards - Ronan Carolan (Cavan), Damien O’Reilly (Cavan), Peter Reilly (Cavan), Martin Daly (Clare), Joe Brolly (Derry), Joe Cassidy (Derry), Declan Darcy (Dublin), Raymond Gallagher (Fermanagh), Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry), Pa Laide (Kerry), Denis O’Dwyer (Kerry), Maurice Sheridan (Mayo), Trevor Giles (Meath), Brendan Reilly (Meath), Peter Brady (Offaly), Vinnie Claffey (Offaly), Roy Malone (Offaly), Paul Taylor (Sligo).
1997 Allstar Hurling nominagtions
Goalkeepers - David Fitzgerald (Clare), Brendan Cummins (Tipperary), Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford);
Defenders - Anthony Daly, Liam Doyle, Brian Lohan, Frank Lohan, Sean McMahon, Michael O’Halloran (all Clare), Sean og O hAilpin (Cork), Cathal Moore (Galway), Liam Keoghan (Kilkenny), Willie O’Connor (Kilkenny), Dave Clarke (Limerick), Stephen McDonagh (Limerick), Mike Nash (Limerick), Colm Bonnar (Tipperary), Michael Ryan (Tipperary), Paul Shelley (Tipperary), Ger Cush (Wexford), Liam Dunne (Wexford)
Midfielders - Ollie Baker (Clare), Colin Lynch (Clare), Liam Burke (Galway), Philip Larkin (Kilkenny), Tommy Dunne (Tipperary), Adrian Fenlon (Wexford);
Forwards - Niall Gilligan (Clare), PJ O’Connell (Clare), Jamesie O’Connor (Clare), Ger O’Loughlin (Clare), Sean McGrath (Cork), Noel Sands (Down), Kevin Broderick (Galway), D J Carey (Kilkenny), Charlie Carter (Kilkenny), Gary Kirby (Limerick), Johnny Dooley (Offaly), John Leahy (Tipperary), Eugene O’Neill (Tipperary), Declan Ryan (Tipperary), Tom Dempsey (Wexford), Gary Laffan (Wexford), Rory McCarthy (Wexford), Martin Storey (Wexford)
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CLIFTONVILLE have signed Derry GAA deputy goalkeeper David Hasson and Antrim inter-county footballer Joe Quinn.
Reds boss Marty Quinn also aims to secure a new contract with striker Stephen Douglas tonight.
Hasson and Quinn are expected to be given immediate debuts with the club’s reserve outfit Cliftonville Olympic.
Reds boss Quinn needs cover for first choice keeper Paul Reece.
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FORMER Antrim GAA player Pat O’Connor would talk to Linfield about a possible move to the club, the player said last night.
Linfield are expected to lead the chase for O’Connor if Ballyclare demand a cash only sale.
Towering Comrades midfielder O’Connor is under contract until the end of the season but already four Premier League clubs are preparing to welcome O’Connor onto their books.
According to a Ballyclare official, Jeffrey’s assistant manager Bryan McLaughlin contacted the Dixon Park club earlier this week.
“I would talk to Linfield, I’m flattered that such a big club has shown interest in me.” said O’Connor last night.
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DERMOT Donnelly can secure his place in the British team for the European CrossCountry Championships next month with a good run in this weekend’s Gateshead international meeting.
Donnelly was the fourth best UK runner in the international event when placing seventh at Margate last weekend.
Up ahead were Keith Cullen, Richard Neureker and Christian Stephenson but former London Marathon winner Neureker has indicated he won’t be competing in the European tests.
Jim Campbell, who has performed impressively on the local circuit in recent weeks, will also travel to Gateshead for the event.
