The seven nominees for the RTÉ Sport Team of the Year have been revealed.
Comprised of league winners, All-Ireland winners, European and World champions, choosing a winner will from these seven selected sides is not an enviable choice.
Last year's winners, Gary & Paul O'Donovan, do not feature on this year's list. With none of the seven nominees ever winning claiming the prize previously, one team is set to join the likes of Dundalk, Munster and Clare hurlers as former recipients of the award.
The seven nominees are as follows:
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Cork Camogie
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Cork City FC
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Dublin Football
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Dublin Ladies Football
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Galway Hurling
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Irish Showjumping Team
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Mark O'Donovan & Shane O'Driscoll
A very strong list of high sporting achievers, it has been a particularly promising year for Cork sport.
Between their all-conquering camogie side, Cork City's league & cup double, and the successes of O'Donovan and O'Driscoll at the World Rowing Championships in Florida, it may yet be Dublin that are left celebrating at the end of the night.
Given that Clare's hurlers and Donegal's footballers have received this award in recent years, it is perhaps time that Jim Gavin's three-in-a-row Dublin side were afforded their dues.
By the same token, in ending their respective droughts and overcoming years of disappointment, Dublin's ladies football team and Galway's hurlers are not to be discounted in the selection process.
For the Irish Showjumping Team, it is likely that a general unawareness of the sport will work against their chances. However, perhaps the 2007 triumph of Irish Cricket may offer some inspiration.
Along with the individual awards being awarded, the Team of the Year for 2017 will be announced on RTÉ One at 9.15pm on Saturday 16 December.
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