The significance of an All-Star – ‘It’s in my mother’s house. She never let it outside the sitting room’
Year: James O'sullivan Memorable 1996 Playing Galway Final In Against Horan Connacht The ©inpho/lorraine Picture: For Sfc Mayo
It is not all about individual awards, but that doesn’t make them insignificant. This week will be one of celebration for several clubs and counties as the best players from the 2024 championship are honoured.
The All-Stars banquet will take place in the RDS on Friday with the hurling team to be unveiled live on the night. The All-Stars football team will be named this Thursday. There is a high likelihood that history will be made somewhere. Armagh’s last All-Star was in 2008 and the All-Ireland champions are certain to end that streak.
Louth have not won an All-Star since Paddy Keenan’s award in 2010 and have just two in their history but after a season that saw them reach a Leinster final and All-Ireland quarter-final, four players have been nominated.
Speaking on the Irish Examiner Gaelic football podcast, two-time winner James Horan explained what the award meant for him. The Ballintubber man is a two-time winner.
“The one I got in 1996 was my first year with Mayo and we had a good run,” he said.
“It was huge for the family first. I think I was the first All-Star in the club. Big boost for yourself and your team-mates. It was amazing really. A great time, a great year and a nice way to finish it off. I was thrilled to get it. I’m never really seen the trophy. It is in my mother’s house; she has never let it outside the sitting room. It can’t be touched. It is still there and anyone new who comes into the house it is one of the first things, rightly or wrongly, they are shown.”
Former Offaly manager Paul Rouse agreed.
“You can see it is a huge night for a player. For example, Cathal Daly was Offaly’s last football All-Star and a great friend of mine. It meant a huge amount not just to him but all of us who played with him and the club.”
It is a noteworthy feat for the clubs that produced the players too. Galway and St James’ midfielder Paul Conroy is in the running for Player of the Year and his first All-Star. His club have never won the award previously. Several All-Stars have represented Salthill-Knocknacarra, like Michael Donnellan and Liam Sammon, but John Maher could become the first to win the accolade while playing for them.
Barry McCambridge of Armagh and Clann Éireann is the third nominee. Their only previous experience was with Alf Murray, who previously won an All-Time All Star in 1986. That was an award presented to a former player who would have likely received an All-Star if the scheme operated during their playing career.
RTÉ’s Joanne Cantwell presents the live broadcast of the awards ceremony. That experience has shown her how much it matters.
“James you were the first in Ballintubber. I remember when Paddy Durcan won his first a couple of years ago, at last, I met him that night and said congratulations. All he could talk about was Castlebar. What it meant to Castlebar Mitchells. It was the only thing that came out of his mouth. I think it said a lot about Paddy, he was genuine. It means a huge amount. I don’t tend to meet a huge number of players on the night, but I do meet the mams, dads, sisters and brothers. It is a huge deal (for them).
“I think (the selection) is a massive responsibility. It is important. Players claim it is about the team or the ultimate goal, but it is a big deal to win an All-Star. You need to be able to put in the work to get the selection right.”