Cork hurlers honoured but wait for another Rebel football All-Star goes on

When the All-Stars were first introduced, Cork players seemed to be a permanent fixture.

In the first 25 years of the GAA awards, from 1971 to 1995, Cork were represented each and every year.

On rare occasions when the hurlers missed out, the footballers stepped up to accept a crowd of statuettes, such as 1973 (a record seven awards) and 1989 (six).

When the footballers were absent, the hurlers chipped in, such as 1978 (a record eight awards) or 1986 (seven).

The greatest year in that run, of course, was 1990. The double netted 12 awards for the Blood and Bandage, evenly split between hurlers and footballers.

In the subsequent 29 years since 1995, there have been 12 occasions when there was no Cork winner on the night.

The revolution years brought no joy between 1996 and ’98. There was another blank streak between 2014 and ’16. That was extended another year between 2020 and ’23.

That latter period included the unwanted record of becoming the first All-Ireland runners-up not to receive an individual prize in 2021.

On Friday evening, so, Cork’s longest All-Star drought was ended with five hurling honourees; the biggest haul since 2005 (six awards).

There were gongs for the Downeys, Eoin and Robert, who became the first set of Leeside brothers to win in one year since the O’Connor twins, Jerry and Ben, in ‘05.

Hurler of the Year nominee Darragh Fitzgibbon was a sure thing in midfield, bagging his second award.

In attack, there was a first award for Shane Barrett and a third for Séamus Harnedy to cap a memorable few weeks after celebrating his fourth Cork SHC medal. 

But where a dual drought ends, football’s barren run endures.

Who was the last Cork footballer to receive an All-Star? We’ll allow you to pause for a moment to mull that one over.

You have to go back a dozen years for the answer: a distinction shared by Aidan Walsh and Colm O’Neill.

The All-Stars aren’t the be-all and end-all in a team sport but they are nice to have too. When Conor Sweeney retired last Thursday, the designation as 'former Tipperary captain and All-Star' will have meant something when he sits back to reflect on his career.

Just look at the Real Madrid meltdown when Vinicius Junior was snubbed for the Ballon d’Or in favour of Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.

The Champions League winners refused to turn up to accept their Club of the Year award, while Carlo Ancelotti joined the boycott rather than receive his Coach of the Year trophy.

“It is clear that Ballon d’Or and UEFA do not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected,” was the club’s response.

Thankfully, the All-Stars haven’t yet reached such extremes. Nominations can also signpost landmark years when sportswriters look for ways to summarise career high points.

Cork have had eight players shortlisted in that spell: James Loughrey (2013), Brian Hurley (2014 and 2019), Ian Maguire (2020), Seán Meehan (2021), Seán Powter, Steven Sherlock (both 2022), Rory Maguire (2023), and Daniel O’Mahony (2024). Powter was also nominated for Young Footballer of the Year in 2017.

The awards are a mirror for success and a lack thereof. On the journey John Cleary is undertaking to bring Cork football back to the top table, an All-Star will be a milestone along the way.

Twelve years is too many for any footballing force to go without such recognition.

As it stands, Jimmy Barry Murphy’s record of seven All-Stars, won across both codes, will take some beating. His total of five hurling awards is matched by John Fenton and Tony O’Sullivan. Could Patrick Horgan (on four) find one more?

Cork lead the way among the rare breed of dual All-Stars with Barry-Murphy equalled by Ray Cummins (the only player ever to win both in one year, 1971) and Brian Murphy, as well as Offaly’s Liam Currams. Of all records, will that ever be achieved again?

INCREDIBLE

Of course, they are outmatched in the separate women’s award schemes by Briege Corkery’s incredible 16 selections and Rena Buckley’s 11.

Those Camogie Association and LGFA All-Stars have been much happier hunting grounds for Cork in recent decades.

In camogie, Rebels have been included in every line-up since the inaugural awards in 2003; a streak set to continue into its 22nd year. The All-Ireland champions have 12 nominations ahead of the November 15 ceremony.

Cork footballers were ever-present for an 18-year streak from 2004 to 2021. They have four nominees for the 2024 edition, to be held on November 16.