IN its second year, the Players' All Stars awards prompt the preliminary observation that the players' perspective doesn't appear to be generating particularly different selections than those dreamt up by journalists under the old scheme.
There remains a huge preponderance of players from the four All Ireland finalists and a tendency in some eases to value reputation over actual performance during the year in question.
As was the case last year, there can be few arguments with the Players of the Year awards. Trevor Giles has been as near as feasible to being the unanimous choice of all football followers. His ability to perform three fundamental tasks - winning ball, using it intelligently and scoring - to a uniformly high standard all through the summer made his selection a formality.
There were more options in hurling but the choice of Martin Storey who crowned a long career by captaining Wexford to an All Ireland is easily justified. His colleagues Larry O'Gorman and Adrian Fenlon could as easily have been granted the accolade but Storey's history of excelling during lean years for his county and the manner in which he adapted his individualism to the needs of the team make his award appropriate.
Given the methodology of the selection - players vote for the six best forwards and backs the best two midfielders and a committee allocates them to specific positions - it is valid to question a couple of omissions.
In defence, Meath corner back, Mark O'Reilly is unlucky after a fine debut season during which he was consistently solid and dependable, an impressive feat for a 19 year old in a long, frequently heated and ultimately victorious campaign.
Similarly, Mayo's full back Kevin Cahill had a championship of quiet excellence. Unfortunately for him, it was made all the quieter - but the none less excellent - by the outstanding form of Meath's Darren Fay in the same position.
Of those selected, Paul Curran can count himself fortunate because although he was among Dublin's best players, the context was a dramatically disimproved team which gave him no chance to emulate the displays that made him Texaco Footballer of the Year 12 months ago.
There will be a particular welcome for Pat Holmes's selection as the veteran wing back had a splendid championship and even starred in the unusual role of full back when Mayo reached the National League semi finals.
In the forwards, Meath's Brendan Reilly is a terrible omission. A converted full forward, he had a memorable championship and scored freely from play, ending up as his team's second top scorer after Trevor Giles and kicking the winning point in the All Ireland final replay.
Ironically, the main beneficiary of Reilly's misfortune is his captain, Tommy Dowd, who despite a fine performance in the All Ireland replay, hadn't a particularly outstanding year.
The hurling team is less surprising. Wexford's corner back Colm Kehoe can count himself unfortunate after a very dependable year during which only Dublin's Kevin Flynn gave him any real trouble. Galway's Tom Helebert gets the League winners' only place after an impressive All Ireland semifinal display.
Kehoe's colleague and full back Ger Cushe is also unlucky but can hardly complain too much at the choice of Brian Lohan whose majestic display as his Clare team lost their crown to Limerick was the defensive performance of the season.
Up front, Cathal Moore, who scored 1-3 against Wexford in the All Ireland semi final, doesn't make the cut, nor does Declan Ryan who had a joyous rebirth at full forward for Tipperary in the Munster final matches.
Both can feel unlucky as the occasionally brilliant but less consistent contributions of Wexford pair Rory McCarthy and Larry Murphy are recognised instead.
Meanwhile, the controversy over inter county players participating in the New York football final replay took a further turn yesterday with the news that the New York board is to conduct an inquiry into the match tomorrow. According to a spokesperson, only one current inter county footballer, Cork's Niall Cahalane, was authorised to play in the match, on November 3rd.
Any others who might have done so - including, presumably, the Kerry quartet being investigated by their county board played under assumed names.