My bad, I completely missed that. My nephew told me a few names, I'll ask him the mara but I think one was something morgan, I think there was another fella from sarsfield and a few others that he felt could have got on. Still I think that makes my earlier point obsolete, this owl age is awful, the memory goes and even with the glasses I can't read half the names. Apologies.

flankie (Antrim) - Posts: 281 - 07/12/2009 22:04:05    506624

i think theres a few dodgy choices there...

robinhood (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 07/12/2009 22:57:46    506681

The hurling all stars selection was a disgrace and how Ciaran Clarke was omitted is beyond belief - he is undoubtedly the best hurling forward in juvenile hurling in Ulster and has taken the Cross and Passion to two Mageean successes in a row and to last year's All-Ireland success. Four All-Stars from St Mary's, three from Cross and Passion (who hammered St Marys in the Mageean final), two form St Louis/Loughgiel! Remind me who the selecters were! These awards are simply a joke and should be confined to the dustbin if a proper selection system, based on performance in the college hurling competitions, cannot be followed. Partiality/club loyalties shouldn't come into the equation, but unfortunately this appears to have been a key factor in selecting this year's team.

bredaghman (Down) - Posts: 98 - 08/12/2009 08:52:07    506858

http://ulstercollegesgaa.org/news/bt-hurling-all-stars-2009-mgrogan-1209/

Dhuibh (Down) - Posts: 281 - 08/12/2009 10:01:57    506916

take nothing away from the lads who did get on it congrats to them but the selection process isnt a good way to pick the all star team. the all star team should be picked from the form shown when they are actually representing their school. as any player can have a bad day at the office at the trials. the selctors should go to some of the casement cup matches and mageean matches and pick the team from this. as the only reason i can think the likes of danny toner and ciaran clarke didnt make the team is that they had an off day at the trials !

Dhuibh (Down) - Posts: 281 - 08/12/2009 17:15:04    507413

I agree what many people are saying. They say it would be too hard to have people watching every match. being a true gael I would happily volunteer to attend the matches, being retired I would have the time and would watch any hurling. SO I think that is a cop out, all they need to do is ask for volunteers, I would more than happily go along.

flankie (Antrim) - Posts: 281 - 08/12/2009 21:52:58    507823

Flankie you'd be a terrible man for the job, sure to you hurling starts at the shaws road and finishes at the falls park.

jesusjones (Antrim) - Posts: 385 - 08/12/2009 22:52:15    507908

true flankie they should be watching the matches to pick it accurately ! how can you judge from one session ? it wouldnt be too hard to watch a few hurly matches. we need selectors like you flankie who are willing to give up their time for the good of the game !

Dhuibh (Down) - Posts: 281 - 08/12/2009 23:02:08    507933

flankie you should be sent out to all matches to pick these hurling all stars. I have no doubt that you are the only person for this job and because of your retirement should be a prime member of this picking method.

robinhood (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 08/12/2009 23:24:23    507988

Thanks for the postive plaudits lads, I'm gad there are some snesible people on this forum. I will offer the ulster colleges my services next year if they do wish to introduce this and health permitting. Although I think me getting to all of the matches is asking a bit too much!

I also believe were these rule to implemented that it should be ruled NA men cannot watch any of their own school's matches, I hate to say it but these boys would just picked those NA players on the schools teams, primarily if they came from Loughuile, Dunloy, Ballycastle or Cushendall.

flankie (Antrim) - Posts: 281 - 09/12/2009 18:45:26    508763

Flankie I think you'll have to admit there is a belfast bias in the all stars. How did st. marys end up with 4 all stars when cross and passion wiped the floor with them in the mageean and only got 3?

jesusjones (Antrim) - Posts: 385 - 09/12/2009 22:19:00    509105

wouldn't say it was biased it was because the team was picked from the trials not the actual matches and anyone can have a bad day on a trial! its the wrong method of picking the all star team !

Dhuibh (Down) - Posts: 281 - 09/12/2009 22:42:24    509163

Flankie if you picked them, somehow I feel that 90% of them would be from South Antrim clubs!

tits.magee (Antrim) - Posts: 57 - 09/12/2009 23:06:55    509221

jesusjones you may well think there is a belfast bias in the all stars , and although cpc whipped st marys in the final ( and its a disgrace clarke didnt get one), there is serious underage talent in south antrim that is reflected in these all stars - which is proven by the fact that the minor championship is in belfast with rossa.....and they have four players on this team , not an unfair reflection if you ask me!!!!!!

cecil (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 09/12/2009 23:36:05    509279

wot i have noticed there is a distinct lack of representation in Down hurlin on this team. there are some very good young player of that age group in Down. the selectors should discard those blinkers!!

cahill (None) - Posts: 2567 - 10/12/2009 11:50:20    509511

How in under God did Ciaran Clarke not get one? Did he not go to the trials?

These "all stars" are a joke, always have been! Aaron Graffin went 3 times during his time at Garron Tower and nevr got one, which was a joke as he was there most consistent and very outstanding player... but seriously... Ciaran Clarke!? Well done selectors, you have now completely removed any prestige there was left in these awards!

Maor-Uisce (Antrim) - Posts: 15 - 10/12/2009 12:41:10    509564

no down men or no derry men on team.

CountyGK (Armagh) - Posts: 13 - 10/12/2009 12:51:09    509576

Theres a lack of Down players, in the same way theres also not a single Derry player. Individual players must be dissapointed with the team selected, and then turn to go against the selection system. Its down to the trials, its how its always been done, and how it will most likely remain.

If they have a bad day at the office at the trials, then better luck next year.

Capor (Antrim) - Posts: 31 - 10/12/2009 12:54:03    509579

Flankie you would probably give yourself one while your at it....

Minor123 (Antrim) - Posts: 40 - 10/12/2009 14:25:04    509679

Cecil I know the minor championship is with rossa and they are a superb minor team but that has nothing to do with the all stars, I played for cpc in the 90's when we won 2 mageean cups in a row, back then all stars were decided on performances in the competition and the trials were only to clear up a few undecided positions. It was generally accepted that the winners got 5 all stars and the runners up got 3 and after watching this years mageean final I think that number would have been about right. I think that Ciaran Clarke not getting an all star is probably the biggest injustice since the all stars began, he was the best man on show in the mageean final.

jesusjones (Antrim) - Posts: 385 - 10/12/2009 18:15:47    509984