Mayo poised to secure five All Stars?

THE long wait for 12 members of the Mayo senior team which lost to Dublin in the All-Ireland final in September, hoping to win a 2017 football All Star award, will end on Friday night at a gala ceremony in Dublin.

While the county supporters will be hoping that six or seven of the team will be rewarded for getting to the All-Ireland final for the second year running, the likelihood is Mayo will receive five All Star awards. To get a sixth would be a bonus.

Last year Mayo had 11 players nominated for an award as did Dublin, the All-Ireland winners. Mayo ended up getting four awards, goalkeeper David Clarke along with defenders Brendan Harrison, Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle, while Dublin received six.

There was disappointment within the county that only four players were honoured and that from number eight upwards they didn't receive any.

However, there is every hope Mayo will get at least five All Stars tomorrow night, if this years hurling All Star award winners, which were announced this morning, is anything to go by. All Ireland champions Galway received seven awards while beaten finalists Waterford making up a third of the selection with five.

Four Mayo certainties should be Keith Higgins, Tom Parsons, Aidan O'Shea and Andy Moran. The other eight nominated are David Clarke, Colm Boyle, Chris Barrett, Lee Keegan, Brendan Harrison, Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty and Cillian O'Connor.

There is no question that David Clarke who is one of the four nominated for the footballer of the year along with Dublin's goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, and midfielder James McCarthy and Andy Moran, had another magnificent year.

But it is going to be touch and go between himself and Cluxton. Whoever loses out on the All Star award will be the first player ever nominated for the player of the year not to be honoured with an All Star.

In defence Colm Boyle should be in with a great chance of getting an award. He was again outstanding throughout the year. Chris Barrett, Lee Keegan and Brendan Harrison have outside chances.

Up front, besides O'Shea and Moran, Kevin McLoughlin has to be in with a great shout, as like Boyle, he had a brilliant year. Jason Doherty (had one of his best years for the county) and Cillian O'Connor would have outside chances.

Meanwhile for the second year running Mayo could be honoured by getting the player of the year award. Last year it was Lee Keegan who received accolade and now for this year Mayo have two of the four players, Andy Moran and David Clarke, nominated for this prestigious award. The other two are Dublin's Stephen Cluxton and James McCarthy.

While all four have strong claims to get the nod it is Mayo's Andy Moran who is the firm favourite to come out on top. Such was his magnificent championship campaign that he would be a very popular winner.