The exclusion of Galway half back Sean Og de Paor and the dismissal of the Offaly team that shook the summer with the early defeat of All-Ireland champions Meath are the most contentious aspects of the 2000 Eircell All Star nominations.

As ever the All-Ireland champions, Kerry, dominate the list, accruing 13 nominations, with defenders Tom O'Sullivan and Mike Hassett and forward Noel Kennelly the luckless ones passed over. That six forwards have gained nomination is a reflection of Kerry's awesome shooting power throughout the championship.

Several positions seem to be sewn up. Seamus Moynihan at full back, Michael Francis Russell at corner forward, Michael McCarthy at corner back and Darragh O Se at midfield are perhaps the four best bankers. It will be interesting to see if - and then where - the selectors chose to place Maurice Fitzgerald who had an oblique but nonetheless devastating effect on the championship with his cameo roles as super-sub.

That Galway have gained only seven nominations seems a harsh return for a team that drew an All-Ireland final and contested the replay despite severe injury worries. But it is indicative of the patchwork job manager John O'Mahony had to do throughout the championship, forced to constantly adjust at centre half, midfield and corner back.

Of the seven nominees, it is hard to see Padraig Joyce, Michael Donnellan and Declan Meehan denied. De Paor was unfortunate to be sent off early in the season against New York and while he didn't reach the heights of 1998, to deny him even a nomination seems strange.

Only two of last year's All Stars, Armagh's Kieran McGeeney and Meath's Graham Geraghty, are back on the list. Geraghty's presence is presumably a sop to the National League run that arguably did for the champions. Armagh defender Andrew McCann deserves to make it and Oisin McConville will certainly collect the award he was unlucky to miss last year.

The presence of Antrim's Sean McGreevy is recognition of their fine season while Rory Gallagher represents the Fermanagh team that pushed Armagh all the way in the Ulster semi-finals. Dublin have three nominations and no one could begrudge Colin Moran, Peader Andrews (oh, do wheels turn) and Paddy Christie their place. That said, Leitrim reached the same stage of the championship and have no representative. Kildare have a nice return of seven - Willie McCreery looks their best bet - while Derry, beaten Ulster finalists, can have no complaints with their return of five, again possibly in recognition of their league achievements.

Nothing for Cork, beaten All-Ireland finalists in 1999, and it is a fallow year also for Clare, the Munster finalists.