All-Ireland and Allianz GAA National League Division 1 champions Cork have been recognised for their outstanding year by having eleven of the team that played in Sunday’s GAA Football All-Ireland victory over Down nominated for the 2010 GAA Football All Stars, sponsored by Vodafone.

Reflecting the exciting and open season just past, the GAA All Star nominees are drawn from 12 counties, representing all four provinces. Defeated All-Ireland finalists Down, as expected, have the second highest number with seven nominees, with semi-finalists Kildare third highest with five nominees and Dublin and Tyrone joint next with four.

Champions Cork have one less nominee than their predecessors as All-Ireland kingpins, Kerry, who had 12 last year. Only 10 of the 45 players nominated are previous All Stars, with Kerry duo Colm Cooper and Tomás Ó Sé the most decorated nominees, with five All Stars each.

Only three of last year’s All Stars team are nominated – Michael Shields and Graham Canty (Cork) and Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry) - with none of the 2009 All Star midfield, half-forward line or full-forward line selection among this year’s nominees. This includes last year’s Player of the Year, Paul Galvin.

Of the four provincial champions – all of whom were defeated at All-Ireland quarter-final stage - Tyrone fare the best with four nominees, with Kerry and Meath on three each and Roscommon on two. Beaten Leinster and Connacht provincial finalists Louth and Sligo, respectively, were rewarded for their resurgent seasons with two nominees each, while Munster’s defeated finalists Limerick have one nominee – one less than last year when they were also beaten provincial finalists.

The 2010 GAA Football All Stars nominations are:

Goalkeepers:
Alan Quirke (Cork)
Brendan McVeigh (Down)
Pascal McConnell (Tyrone)

Full-backs
Michael Shields (Cork)
Rory O'Carroll (Dublin)
Peter Kelly (Kildare)
Charlie Harrison (Sligo)
Philip McMahon (Dublin)
Justin McMahon (Tyrone)
Dan Gordon (Down)
John O'Brien (Louth)
Marc Ó Sé (Kerry)

Half-backs
Paudie Kissane (Cork)
Kevin McKernan (Down)
Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
Emmet Bolton (Kildare)
Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry)
Graham Canty (Cork)
Noel O'Leary (Cork)
Joe McMahon (Tyrone)
Eamon Callaghan (Kildare)

Midfielders
Aidan Walsh (Cork)
Paddy Keenan (Louth)
Michael D Macauley (Dublin)
John Galvin (Limerick)
Kalum King (Down)
Nicholas Murphy (Cork)

Half-forwards
Paddy Kelly (Cork)
Daniel Hughes (Down)
Graham Reilly (Meath)
Martin Clarke (Down)
Joe Sheridan (Meath)
John Doyle (Kildare)
Paul Kerrigan (Cork)
Seamus Kenny (Meath)
Cathal Cregg (Roscommon)

Full-forwards
Daniel Goulding (Cork)
Bernard Brogan (Dublin)
Donie Shine (Roscommon)
Colm Cooper (Kerry)
Donncha O'Connor (Cork)
David Kelly (Sligo)
Benny Coulter (Down)
James Kavanagh (Kildare)
Padraic Joyce (Galway)

Breakdown of the nominations by county is as follows:

Cork – 11
Down – 7
Kildare - 5
Tyrone - 4
Dublin - 4
Kerry – 3
Meath – 3
Roscommon – 2
Sligo – 2
Louth – 2
Galway – 1
Limerick – 1