There are some awards that have little or no place in this world. Ten-a-penny gongs at that are nothing more than mere ornaments. But when it comes to GAA, there is one particular accolade that every footballer and hurler aspires to achieve.
Every player pulls on their county jersey in early in the hope that if work hard enough, if they're adequately hungry, if they put in four hard months of intensity, then maybe, just maybe, they'll make it onto the GAA BallStar Team of the Year.
So with out further ado, we bring to you our 2013 Team of the Year. Have gander, read why we chose them and let us know if you agree or disagree with our selection.
Image: Barry Downes
1. Anthony Nash
Selected for his unrivaled ability to turn a 21 metre free into a 13 metre free. Rumours that he could be lost to GAA as the State of Texas are currently looking at using his skills with a sliotar and a hurl to create a more inhumane form of capital punishment.
2. Ross Donovan
Alerted everyone to the awful ordeal that is a trip to the wretched outpost, the hellhole that is London.
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3. Davy Hare
The Longford fitness trainer fills in as a makeshift full back for reminding glasses wearers everywhere to remove their spectacles before they engage in a melee/shameful scenes/Rihanna concert
4. Eugene Keating
Lethal from one yard out... We had to put him as far away from the opposition goal as possible.
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5. Brendan Bugler
Legendary accordian player, mother's a cousin of Ger Loughnane, fist pumping half back. The man could not be any more Clare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9vzHvx2lX4
6. Lucas Podolski
He was there in 95 and 97 but was unable to make it this year. Still took time out to send this message to Shane O'Donnell, Podge Collins and co. His mother never misses the bingo in Ennis
7. Santi Cozorla
Wasn't there in 97 because he had a game against the Real Sociedad U-8s. Wouldn't have missed 95 for anything.
Good luck @GaaClare @ClareHurlers for All-Ireland final. Today Santi & me smashed it over the bar #wristyhurlers pic.twitter.com/z9qJW6LMrT — Lukas-Podolski.com (@Podolski10) September 28, 2013
8. Aidan O'Shea
His stellar performance on the Championship Matters Quiz and his magnificent ultra modern face grab against Tyrone, make him the midfield powerhouse of our team.
9. Sean Cavanagh
He may have made the Balls Team of the Year but you can forget about him as far as he's making our men of the year team...
10. Cian Mackey
People thought the lad on Dorset Street after the All-Ireland Foootball final was bad. Mackey soldiered on through the year despite lacking both eyeballs.
11. Diarmuid Connolly
Consecrating the ground of Croke Park.
12. Podge Collins
That tweet
.@Ruby_Walsh any chance of a lend of a saddle for the winter #jockeying — Shane O'Donnell (@townhurler) September 29, 2013
Apologies @Ruby_Walsh tweet was on the sly by @PodgeCollins #toogoodtodelete — Shane O'Donnell (@townhurler) September 29, 2013
13. Paddy Andrews
For his memorably tense showdown with Jim Gavin's wife. This is the type of behaviour which, along with winning the All-Ireland, sees Dublin behind everybody else heading into 2014.
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14. Michael Meehan
Cork were needlessly cavalier here, only plonking 13 men on the line and Michael Meehan punished them.
15. Laois Steward
Tucked away at left corner forward this steward at the Leinster Hurling semi-final was a model of dispassionate officialdom after Laois scored against Galway.
Manager:
Davy Fitzgerald
Davy Fitzgerald is the manager of the Balls Team of the Year so he is. With the help of a fantastic band of young teenagers he has brought Clare hurling from nowhere to All-Ireland champions in two years. He has done it in spite of all the stick he has gotten this year, and all the stuff that's been written about him this year, referee's who have a hatred of small fish, and the hail of programmes that have been flung at the them this year. So he has.
