Limerick boss John Kiely says it’s unusual that beaten All-Ireland finalists Cork didn’t win any All Stars this year.
The PwC sponsored All Stars were revealed yesterday with Limerick landing a whopping 12 gongs.
This year was also the first time in the history of the famous awards scheme that a beaten finalist has missed out on an All Star, across 102 teams in both codes.
Three-time All-Ireland winning manager, Kiely saw his Limerick side collect a dozen All Stars, three more than the previous best - Kilkenny (2008) and Limerick (2020).
Tony Kelly (Clare), Conor Prunty (Waterford) and Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) were the only non-Limerick players to land awards.
No player from All-Ireland finalists Cork was honoured following their 16 point decider defeat by Limerick.
Sean O’Donoghue, Patrick Horgan, Jack O’Connor and Seamus Harnedy were all in the running before Limerick’s claims ultimately proved too strong and they swept the boards.
The All Star are selected by a pool of GAA journalists.
“It is unusual, it has to be said,” commented Kiely, speaking about Cork missing out.
“For a team to be in an All-Ireland final and not to be acknowledged with one, or two or three or four or five, whatever it might be. Usually, you'd have multiples of them.
"But our focus is on our own group and the acknowledgment of their work and their achievement and their performance levels.
"All Stars are by their nature very divisive.”
Former Cork midfielder John Fenton - an ex Hurler of the Year - reckons it can be a rallying cry for Cork next season.
Speaking to Ourgame.ie, he said: “The fact that Limerick have 12 on the team probably shows their dominance.
“I think there might be one or two Cork lads that will be disappointed that they didn’t get the nod.
“But I suppose in all fairness it just proves how good Limerick have been over the year and the last couple of years.
“I think it will motivate a lot of Cork fellas next year to go one step further.
“An All Star trophy, to me, is a fantastic honour. It’s a lovely boost to get at the end of the year.
“Okay, if you had a choice between an All-Star and an All-Ireland medal you’d obviously take the All-Ireland medal.
“But Limerick are going to be there, not only for Cork but for everyone else, and I think it will motivate a lot of teams to up their game against them.”
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