A prominent feature of Cork City's double-winning season has been an abiding sense that the team's efforts have been wrongfully overlooked for too long.
Breaking Dundalk's three-year stranglehold over the League of Ireland, City - who finished second on all three occassions - finally ousted their rivals on both fronts this year.
However, while this success is certain to be cherished by the Leesiders, the announcement of today's PFAI Team of the Year is sure to revive their feelings of consternation.
In 2016, champions Dundalk were awarded 6 places; with runners up Cork being afforded 4.
This time out, with the league and cup title in tow, Cork City players make up only 3 of the 11 selected. No doubt adding insult to injury is the fact that 2 of the 3 selected (Seán Maguire and Ryan Delaney) have already left the club.
Dundalk, in contrast, have had 4 players named amongst the 11.
In what is certainly a strange decision given the manner in which Cork dominated the opening stage of the season, it would appear that the trouble they had in seeing it out has impacted upon the decision-making of their fellow players across the league.
In terms of individual honours, Seán Maguire, Dundalk's Patrick McEleney and Derry's Aaron McEneff are the nominees for Player of the Year, with Ryan Delaney, McEneff and Shamrock Rovers' Trevor Clarke vying for the Young Player of the Year award.
These along with the winners of the Irish Overseas Player of the Year (Shane Duffy, James McClean & Robbie Brady), Referee of the Year and International Women's Player of the Year (Megan Campbell, Katie McCabe & Denise O'Sullivan) will be announced on Saturday week at an event in Dublin.
The full PFAI Team of the Year is as follows: Gerard Doherty (Derry), Sean Gannon (Dundalk), Niclas Vemmelund (Dundalk), Ryan Delaney (Cork City), Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Aaron McEneff (Derry City), Patrick McEleney (Dundalk), Gearóid Morrissey (Cork City), David McMillan (Dundalk), Ronan Murray (Galway Utd), Sean Maguire (Cork City).
