From the podcast segment that has already grown into an unstoppable media phenomenon (there may be an element of hyperbole here), we bring you an outstanding piece of trivia.
Valued listener Johnny Tight Lips (@internetisafad) submitted a question to the #stumpconor slot on The Racket today.
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He asked us which is the only county in the country that boasts an All-Star in every position in both hurling and football - crucially one can not use the same player in two different positions.
(Example: Joe Canning won an All-Star at corner forward in 2008 and full forward in 2012. He cannot be included twice in this team so as to ensure the Galway hurlers complete their team. As we discover below. He doesn't have to).
The All-Stars were instituted in 1971 and there are only three counties who could plausibly have earned an All-Star in every position across both codes in that time.
Cork, Galway, and Offaly.
The answer given was Offaly. Stumped.
However, on closer inspection, they are not alone.
The Cork footballers let their brethren down. No Corkman has been selected at either 12 or 15 on All-Star teams.
Dave Barry was selected numerous times on the other wing, while Paul McGrath, Colm O'Neill, Jimmy Barry Murphy, and Daniel Goulding have all won All-Stars in the right corner forward spot.
But Galway achieved the feat also thanks to the selection committee for the inaugural All-Stars, who selected Liam Sammon, more commonly known as a forward, in the midfield spot. He can thus slot in alongside Kevin Walsh in midfield.
Here are the most recent All-Stars across both codes from the three most prominent dual counties of the All-Star age.
Offaly Football - Most recent All-Stars in every position
* Sean Lowry won an All-Star at centre-half back in 1982 and full-forward in 1979. He is the sole Offaly man to be selected in the latter position. Slotting him in there frees up the centre-half back slot for Nicholas Clavin who was chosen for the 1971 team.
1. Martin Furlong (1983) 2. Mick Fitzgerald (1982) 3. Liam Connor (1982) 4. Cathal Daly (1997) 5. Eugene Mulligan (1971) 6. Nicholas Clavin (1971) 7. Liam Currams (1982) 8. Richie Connor (1978) 9. Padraig Dunne (1982) 10. Johnny Cooney (1972) 11. Matt Connor (1983) 12. Kevin Killmurray (1973) 13. Tony McTeague (1972) 14. Sean Lowry (1979) 15. Brendan Lowry (1981)
Offaly Hurling - Most recent All-Stars in every position
1. Stephen Byrne (1998) 2. Aidan Fogarty (1989) 3. Kevin Kinahan (1998) 4. Martin Hanamy (1998) 5. Brian Whelahan (1995) 6. Hubert Rigney (1994) 7. Kevin Martin (1998) 8. Johnny Dooley (1998) 9. Johnny Pilkington (1990) 10. Michael Duignan (1998) 11. John Troy (1999) 12. Mark Corrigan (1981) 13. Joe Dooley (1998) 14. Padraig Horan (1985) 15. Johnny Flaherty (1981)
Galway Football - Most recent All-Stars in every position
* Ja Fallon won at right half forward in 1995 but he won more recently at centre-half forward in 1998. Therefore, Barry Brennan is included from 1981. In addition to his 1987 All-Star at left-corner forward, Val Daly won at centre forward in 1990.
1. Martin McNamara (1998) 2. Kieran Fitzgerald (2001) 3. Stephen Kinneavy (1983) 4. Tomas Mannion (1998) 5. Declan Meehan (2001) 6. Tommy Joe Gilmore (1973) 7. Sean Óg De Paor (1998) 8. Liam Sammon (1971) 9. Kevin Walsh (2003) 10. Barry Brennan (1981) 11. Jarlath Fallon (1998) 12. Michael Donnellan (2001) 13. Val Daly (1987) 14. Padraig Joyce (2001) 15. Derek Savage (2000)
Galway Hurling - Most recent All-Stars in every position
*Joe Canning won an All-Star at full forward in 2012 but selecting him at left corner forward (his position on the 2008 All-Star team) frees up the full-forward position for Eugene Cloonan who won in 2001.
1. Colm Callanan (2015) 2. Ollie Canning (2009) 3. Conor Hayes (1988) 4. Fergal Moore (2012) 5. Daithi Burke (2015) 6. Liam Hodgins (2001) 7. David Collins (2012) 8. Iarla Tannian (2012) 9. David Burke (2015) 10. Cathal Mannion (2015) 11. Joe Rabbitte (2000) 12. Damien Hayes (2012) 13. Ger Farragher (2005) 14. Eugene Cloonan (2001) 15. Joe Canning (2008)
Cork Football - Most recent All-Stars in every position
1. Kevin O'Dwyer (1999) 2. Frank Cogan (1973) 3. Michael Shields (2010) 4. Anthony Lynch (2002) 5. Paudie Kissane (2010) 6. Graham Canty (2010) 7. John Miskella (2009) 8. Nicholas Murphy (2006) 9. Aidan Walsh (2012) 10. Dave Barry (1989) 11. Pearse O'Neill (2009) 12. Not selected 13. Colm O'Neill (2012) 14 Ray Cummins (1973) 15. Not selected
Cork Hurling - Most recent All-Stars in every position
*Sean Óg O'Halpin won All-Stars at both right half-back and left half back but you have to go back to Dermot MacCurtain to find a player selected there without being picked elsewhere.
1. Anthony Nash (2013) 2. Pat Mulcahy (2005) 3. Diarmuid O'Sullivan (2005) 4. Brian Murphy (2006) 5. Dermot MacCurtain (1980) 6. Ronan Curran (2006) 7. Sean Óg O'Hailpin (2005) 8. Jerry O'Connor (2006) 9. Seanie McCarthy (1992) 10. Seamus Harnedy (2013) 11. Niall McCarthy (2004) 12. Tony O'Sullivan (1992) 13. Setanta O'Hailpin (2003) 14. Pa Horgan (2013) 15. Joe Deane (2003)
Read more: Cathal Cregg Explains Why It Very Nearly Went Tits-Up For Roscommon In New York
