Historic night of triumph for the O’Se brothers
Kerry’s All-Ireland winning heroes were in celebratory mood again tonight when six of their players were named as Vodafone GAA Football All Stars for 2007. The award winners were announced during the live television show from the gala banquet at Dublin’s City West Hotel.
It was a very special night for the O’Se family from West Kerry. For the first time in the history of the All Stars scheme three brothers were selected in the same year. Marc, Tomas and Darragh had further reason for celebration when Marc was named the Footballer of the Year.
Dan Shanahan from Waterford was named Hurler of the Year. Seamus Hickey from Limerick was named Young Hurler of the Year while the Young Footballer of the Year award went to Kerry’s Killian Young.
Seven sets of brothers have received All Star football awards. The three Spillane brothers won awards but never in the same year.
The O’Se brothers were joined on the stage tonight by their Kerry colleagues Aidan O’Mahony, Declan O’Sullivan and Colm Cooper.
There are seven new All Stars in this year’s selection – Kevin McCloy (Derry), Graham Canty (Cork), Stephen Bray (Meath), O’Sullivan, Paddy Bradley (Derry) and Tommy Freeman (Monaghan). Freeman is the first Monaghan footballer to be honoured since Paddy Linden and Eugene ‘Nudie’ Hughes were selected in 1988.
The county breakdown is: Kerry (6), Dublin (4), Derry (2), Meath (1), Monaghan (1) and Cork (1).
On behalf of Vodafone Ireland Carolan Lennon, Consumer Business Director, paid tribute to the players. “This has been another great year for Gaelic Games and I am delighted to congratulate the footballers honoured tonight. I also wish to pay tribute to the All Stars hurlers and I know they will enjoy the All Stars tour to New York in November.”
The Vodafone GAA Football All Stars for 2007 are:
Goalkeeper: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin) 3rd award (2002, 2006)
Right Full Back: Marc O’Se (Kerry) 2nd (2006)
Full Back: Kevin McCloy (Derry) 1st
Left Full Back: Graham Canty (Cork) 1st
Right Half Back: Tomas O’Se (Kerry) 3rd (2004, 2005)
Centre Half Back: Aidan O’Mahony (Kerry) 2nd (2006)
Left Half Back: Barry Cahill (Dublin) 1st
Midfield: Ciaran Whelan (Dublin) 2nd (1999)
Darragh O’Se (Kerry) 4th (2000, 2002, 2006)
Right Half Forward: Stephen Bray (Meath) 1st
Centre Half Forward: Declan O’Sullivan (Kerry) 1st
Left Half Forward: Alan Brogan (Dublin) 2nd (2006)
Right Full Forward: Colm Cooper (Kerry) 4th (2002, 2004, 2005)
Full Forward: Paddy Bradley (Derry) 1st
Left Full Forward: Tommy Freeman (Monaghan) 1st
Hurler of the Year: Dan Shanahan (Waterford)
Young Hurler of the Year: Seamus Hickey (Limerick)
Footballer of the Year: Marc O’Se (Kerry)
Young Footballer of theYear: Killian Young (Kerry)