Brendan Bugler joins All-star list

THE GAA All-Stars scheme was launched in 1971 and on Friday last Whitegate’s Brendan Bugler became Clare’s 21st winner.

 

Now jointly promoted by the GAA and the GPA, the scheme is sponsored by Opel. The awards were presented at the Convention Centre in Dublin.

Bugler’s selection at right half-back brought Clare its first winner since 2006 when Tony Griffin from Ballyea was named at corner-forward.

Arguably, the most controversial selection in the history of the scheme, All-Ireland and league champions Kilkenny got just five awards, while beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway were honoured with six. Munster champions, Tipperary, failed to get any player on the team.

Bugler is one of eight first-time winners, the others being Anthony Nash (Cork), Fergal Moore, David Collins, Iarla Tannian, David Burke (all Galway), Kevin Moran (Waterford) and TJ Reid (Kilkenny).

Henry Shefflin won his 11th award on Friday when he was also named as the hurler of the year for the third time in his career. Galway’s Johnnie Coen received the young hurler-of-the-year award.

The football team was named earlier last week and All-Ireland champions Donegal lead the way with eight awards with runners-up Mayo getting four, Cork two and Dublin with one,

The 2012 hurling team is Anthony Nash (Cork); Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Fergal Moore (Galway); Brendan Bugler (Clare), Brian Hogan (Kilkenny), David Collins (Galway); Iarla Tannian (Galway), Kevin Moran (Waterford); TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Damien Hayes (Galway); John Mullane (Waterford), Joe Canning (Galway) and David Burke (Galway).

Clare’s previous winners are Jamesie O’Connor (four), Davy Fitzgerald, Anthony Daly, Sean McMahon, Brian Lohan, Seamus Durack (three each); Colin Lynch, Ollie Baker, Liam Doyle, Ger O’Loughlin, John Callinan, Johnnie McMahon, Ger Loughnane (two each); Frank Lohan, Niall Gilligan, Tony Griffin, Sean Stack, Noel Casey, Colm Honan, Mick Moroney and Tony Griffin (one each).

Footballer of the year: Karl Lacey, Donegal; young footballer of the year: Cillian O’Connor, Mayo.
Hurler of the year: Henry Shefflin, Kilkenny; young hurler of the year: Johnny Coen, Galway.