By Noel Coogan

Many followers of Gaelic games must have bene puzzled by the football
and hurling Teams of the Year chosen by pundits after the conclusion
of the championships last month. Selections are dominated by players
from the All-Ireland finals, Armagh, Galway, Clare and Cork, with
the Sunday Game panels choosing 13 from the finalists on their
respective 15s.

The football side is especially baffling, considering that there was
little between Armagh, Galway, Kerry and Donegal with Dublin and Mayo
close on the tails of the top four. Derry’s league win was hardly
taken into consideration while Louth also have contenders.

It was so different in the early years of the All-Stars awards scheme
which began in 1971. The selectors cast their nets wider in
those days and the first teams picked make for interesting
observation. All-Ireland champions Offaly (football) and Tipperary
(hurling) both had just four players selected.

The Faithful men honoured were Eugene Mulligan, Nicholas Clavin,
Willie Bryan and Tony McTague while beaten finalists Galway also got
four on the team. A total of nine counties figured on the first
All-Stars football team with Mayo, Kerry, Meath, Cork, Sligo, Antrim
and Down also gaining representation. Left half-back Pat Reynolds was
the first of many Meath footballers to be selected while Donnie
O’Sullivan, Ray Cummins, Mickey Kearins and Sean O’Neill were other
notables included.

Ray Cummins of Cork was selected on both the football and hurling
teams in 1971. Seven counties gained places on the first hurling
All-Stars team with All-Ireland winners Tipperary and losing finalists
Kilkenny leading the way with four each, followed by league champions
Limerick and Cork with two each and Offaly, Galway and Dublin on one
each. Hurler Mick Bermingham was Dublin’s first All-Star.

After winning the NFL in 1975, Meath were honoured with two All-Star
awards with Ken Rennicks and Mattie Kerrigan selected at
centre-forward and full-forward respectively. All-Ireland champions
Kerry led the way with five on the team while Dublin, beaten finalists
in the League and Championship, got three places. Ulster winners Derry
also had five places and Dublin. Also rewarded with three
were Ulster winners Derry while Cork and Down got one each.

Come the end of 2024, it is highly unlikely that All-Star selectors
will choose teams as representative as Mick Dunne and co back in the
seventies. These times there is far too much emphasis on the
All-Ireland finalists.

Above pic;  Graham Geraghty, winner of two All- Star Awards in 1994 and 1999.