Mullane gets some consolation

GPA NAME 2008 HURLING TEAM AND NEWS:WATERFORD FORWARD John Mullane got some consolation yesterday for missing out on an All Star award when he was named on the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Hurling Team of the Year for 2008.

Like the football honours list, the announcement of the GPA team is largely a compare and contrast exercise with the All Stars, only this time there wasn't much to compare.

Mullane's inclusion is the only difference from the All Star team announced last month, and rewards Waterford, the beaten All-Ireland finalists, with two places on the team of 15 - having surprisingly landed just one player on the All Star team in fellow forward Eoin Kelly. Mullane was the championship's highest scorer from play, hitting 2-21 in seven games, and was the most controversial omission from the All Stars.

Kilkenny, however, once again dominate with a remarkable nine places in total, the same as their record-equalling haul on the All Star team. But with Mullane chosen in the left corner forward position in preference to Galway's Joe Canning, who was last month honoured with his first All Star, there are only four counties in total on the GPA team - reflecting the increasing exclusiveness of these awards schemes.

Along with Kilkenny's nine and Waterford's two, Tipperary have three players honoured in goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, centre back Conor O'Mahony and midfielder Shane McGrath, while Ben O'Connor once again provides Cork with their sole representative, at right wing forward.

Kilkenny's control of the team is identical to the All Stars; they claimed all three full-back positions in Michael Kavanagh, Noel Hickey, and Jackie Tyrrell, and two of the half-back places in Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney, while All-Ireland winning captain James Fitzpatrick is selected midfield. They also claimed three of the six forward positions in Henry Shefflin, Eoin Larkin and Eddie Brennan, at right full forward.

The GPA will announce their overall player of the year awards at this Friday's celebration banquet at Dublin Citywest hotel.

Former Cork hurling manager Donal O'Grady acted as chairman of the selection committee, and he congratulated the winners.

"Two thousand and eight was another good year for hurling and I salute all involved," said O'Grady. "To be honoured by your peers is one of the highest accolades available in hurling, and as a committee, we feel that the three most deserving nominees were picked for each position."

Inevitably O'Grady was quizzed on the latest stand-off involving many of his former players, and current manager Gerald McCarthy. O'Grady suggested the players were right to pursue an input into the appointment of the manager: "Obviously they're going to have opinions and those opinions should be taken into account. I'm not saying they should have a veto on who becomes their manager but they certainly should have an input into what's best for them."

Mullane, meanwhile, won't be afforded much of a celebration on Friday night as his club, De La Salle, will contest Sunday's Waterford hurling final against Abbeyside - one of the last county titles yet to be decided for 2008, with De La Salle looking for a first title since 1914.

Mullane has been pivotal in helping De La Salle get this far, and if they claim the title on Sunday then once again he won't have much time to enjoy it as the Waterford champions are due out in the Munster club championship the following Sunday, where they must travel to meet Cork champions Sarsfields.

Kilkenny champions Ballyhale have been installed as clear favourites for the Leinster club hurling title following their facile win over Rathdowney from Laois on Sunday, but they look set to surrender home advantage for their semi-final date with the Westmeath champions Raharney on Sunday week. Although the Kilkenny club were drawn on the home side of the draw, Raharney have requested the Leinster Council allow them the home venue, which Ballyhale are understood to be agreeable to.

ALL STAR HURLING TEAM 2008:Brendan Cummins (Tipperary); Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny); Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Conor O'Mahony (Tipperary), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny); James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny), Shane McGrath (Tipperary); Ben O'Connor (Cork), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny); Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Eoin Kelly (Waterford), Joe Canning (Galway).