The 45 All-Star nominees for the 2024 inter-county Gaelic football season were announced on Thursday morning.

It wouldn't be an All-Star selection without discourse surrounding who should have made it but didn't and who shouldn't have made it but did.

Armagh inevitably led the way with 11 of their players in contention, closely followed by Galway with eight and Donegal with seven.

Having dominated the nominations last year with 19 between them, it's a much quieter affair from a Dublin and Kerry perspective this time around with just four each.

The PwC All-Stars will be announced in a ceremony in the Maldron Hotel in September and there are three players who were unlucky not to be invited, in our view.

Stefan Campbell (Armagh)

Soupy was one of the most influential players in Ireland this year, scoring 0-2 in the quarter final against Roscommon and again in the semi-final against Kerry.

He set-up Aaron McKay's match-winning goal in the final with a typically incisive dart but you can also see why the selectors left him out.

He didn't start any of those games.

It would have been unusual for a super-sub to win an All-Star and maybe that was why he was left out by the selection committee. But it's called a 20-man game now, and we would have made an exception for the Clan na Gael club-man.

Jason McGee (Donegal)

McGee was a man-mountain around the middle for a Donegal midfield that ruled the skies. He was an ever-willing outlet for Shaun Patton's kick-outs as well as a physical presence in the engine room.

He carried the ball powerfully throughout the year, also clipping some nice scores. A man who played underage soccer for the Republic of Ireland, he can't have been too far away from this morning' list of 45.

Daire Cregg (Roscommon)

The Boyle club man was held by Armagh in the quarter final but he was sublime up until that point, kicking 0-4 including three from play against Dublin.

He hit Cavan for one mark and three from play before kicking three from play again against Tyrone. Roscommon went down badly against Mayo in Connacht but he was also impressive that day kicking 0-4, including two from play.

Connor Gleeson (Galway)

Enjoyed his best year to date in the Galway jersey, conceding just two goals throughout the year.

He dealt with any high balls that came his way and while he was at fault for the concession of a group stage goal against Armagh, when a kick-out went astray, he barely put a foot wrong otherwise.

He was the match-winner in the Connacht final, kicking two late frees as they overcame Mayo.

Joe McElroy (Armagh)

Probably not an outstanding player in the mould of a Daire Cregg kicking three or four from play, but he played a central role in the Armagh team with his tracking, tackling and link play.

His late block on Paul Conroy in the final lives on in the mind for Armagh fans.