O'Toole nominated for PwC All-Star
St Loman's forward Ronan O'Toole has got a timely boost ahead of this Sunday's Senior Football Championship final against Coralstown-Kinnegad with the news that he has been nominated for an All-Star.
The fleet-footed attacker, who was named on the inaugural Tailteann Cup Team of the Year last year, is one of 18 attackers nominated this year. Other forwards nominated include the Clifford brothers from Kerry, Conor McManus from Monaghan, Dublin's All Ireland winning quartet Colm Basquel, Cormac Costello, Paul Mannion and Con O'Callaghan, and Derry's Paul Cassidy and Shane McGuigan.
Unsurprisingly Dublin (10) have the highest number of nominations. This year's 45 nominations come from 13 counties, the widest spread since 2008.
The reigning Footballer of the Year, David Clifford, has been short-listed once again, alongside two-time winner Brian Fenton and Brendan Rogers from Derry.
The candidates for PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year are Derry duo Ethan Doherty and Eoin McEvoy and Roscommon’s Conor Carroll
Congratulating the nominees, Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “Our expanded football championship format gave us more high-profile games than ever before, and I am delighted to see this reflected in the strong representation in this year’s PwC All-Stars. It was a fantastic campaign, lit up by outstanding displays. The All-Stars is an iconic scheme that celebrates the best of the talents that we are fortunate to have playing our games.”
Tom Parsons, CEO of the GPA added: “What stands out to me in this list of 45 nominees is the number of counties represented. In total players from thirteen counties have made the cut and I think this reflects the nature of our season now where there are more games and more chances for players to impress. You should all be very proud of your achievements.”
If Ronan, one of Westmeath's standout performers this season, wins an All-Star he will become only the fifth Lakesider to do so.
Athlone Rory O'Connell won the county's first in 2001, while Dessie Dolan and John Keane were honoured in 2004 after Westmeath claimed its first, and to date, only Leinster Senior Football Championship.
Keane became the first Westmeath player to win two All-Stars when he was picked again in 2008, alongside his teammate Gary Connaughton.