Dublin’s captain and goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton leads his team out for the All Ireland final replay against Kerry on Sept. 14. INPHO/JAMES CROMBIE
By P.J. Cunningham
The All-Star awards on Friday night normally signals the end of inter-county fare until the Spring and we got a nugget to talk about as Footballer of the Year, Stephen Cluxton at 38, threw out the possibility of retiring from netminding duties for Dublin after 17 years between the sticks.
More precisely, he said he would spend the coming weeks deliberating on whether he would go on or shuffle off into the sunset. As he said on television, he has the heart and the will to continue but he has see if his body can hold up to the rigor of top-class preparation and playing as he edges ever closer to 40.
Of course you could make a case, and a very strong one at that, for TJ Reid, the Kilkenny scoring machine or indeed Patrick Horgan, the Cork scorer in chief as being very worthy hurlers of the year. But that would be in an ordinary year and not one like we just had when Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan not only led the Premier to Liam MacCarthy glory but scored by scoring a goal in every round of the championship. He managed a total tally of 8-17 from play this year and seems likely to rewrite the record books when it coms to goals and hurling.
For the record, Adrian Mullen, Kilkenny and Sean O’Shea Kerry picked up the young hurler and football of the year awards respectively.
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Tipperary’s Séamus Callanan. INPHO/JAMES CROMBIE
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2019 All Star Football Team
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Stephen Cluxton, 37, Parnells, Dublin - sixth award
2. Michael Fitzsimons, 31, Cuala, Dublin - second award
3. Ronan McNamee, 28, Aghyaran, Tyrone - first award
4. Tom O’Sullivan, 23, An Daingean, Kerry - first award
5. Patrick Durcan, 24, Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo - first award
6. Brian Howard, 22, Raheny, Dublin - second award
7. Jack McCaffrey, 26, Clontarf, Dublin - fourth award
8. Brian Fenton, 26, Raheny, Dublin - fourth award
9. David Moran, 31, Kerins O’Rahillys, Kerry - second award
10. Paul Mannion, 26, Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin - third award
11. Sean O’Shea, 21, Kenmare Shamrocks, Kerry - first award
12. Michael Murphy, 30, Glenswilly, Donegal - third award
13. David Clifford, 20, Fossa, Kerry - second award
14. Cathal McShane, 23, Owen Roe’s, Tyrone - first award
15. Con O’Callaghan, 23, Cuala, Dublin - second award
2019 Hurling All Star team
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Brian Hogan, 23, Lorrha-Dorrha, Tipperary - first award
2. Sean Finn, 23, Bruff, Limerick - second award
3. Ronan Maher, 24, Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary - second award
4. Cathal Barrett, 26, Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary - second award
5. Brendan Maher, 30, Borris-Ileigh, Tipperary - third award
6. Padraig Walsh, 27, Tullaroan, Kilkenny - second award
7. Padraic Maher, 30, Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary - sixth award
8. Noel McGrath, 28, Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary - 3rd award
9. Diarmuid O’Keeffe, 27, St Anne’s, Wexford - first award
10. Lee Chin, 27, Faythe Harriers, Wexford - first award
11. TJ Reid, 31, Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny - fourth award
12. Colin Fennelly, 30, Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny - second award
13. Aaron Gillane, 23, Partrickswell, Limerick - first award
14. Seamus Callanan, 31, Drom and Inch, Tipperary - fourth award
15. Patrick Horgan, 31, Glen Rovers, Cork - fourth award
