On a night when one veteran GAA star was acknowledged for a sensational season, another’s name was left unannounced and it felt very strange.
How odd it must feel to be nominated for Footballer of the Year and for Goalkeeper of the Year and to leave with nothing.
Such was the fate for Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton at the Dublin Convention Centre on Friday night.
Cluxton would have known earlier in the day that he would not be getting the Footballer of the Year prize – they call you up to PwC’s Dublin headquarters in the afternoon for some publicity shots – so he would have felt the wind’s direction when David Clarke’s name was called out as goalkeeper in the 2017 Team of the Year.
His duty for the remainder of the ceremony was to smile and applaud when the rest of the names were called out. That he did and there was plenty of reason to as the names of seven of his Dublin teammates were announced as All Stars.
Andy Moran was then confirmed as Footballer of the Year and few were complaining – the Mayo forward had a fantastic year and showed there is plenty of life in those thirty-something legs yet. Still, it felt off that Cluxton had to miss out so utterly.
Stephen Cluxton: The greatest footballer of all time? https://t.co/XQUjLDqvyK
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 18, 2017
Some had theorised that the inclusion of Cluxton and Clarke in the four-man Footballer of the Year nomination list was a sign that both men would be accommodated in some way at the awards ceremony. Perhaps the 36-year-old got decent votes in each category but not enough to go home with even one accolade.
The Parnells clubman already has five All Stars but the most important accomplishment is the five All-Ireland titles he has helped Dublin to. That will be remembered for years to come and legend of his goal-kicks will bloom and embellish with each passing decade – “He could pick a man out from 90-metres in a Force 10 gale… “
Cluxton will not be forgotten, so let’s give some deservedly due attention to Moran.
Back in 2014, Moran told The GAA Hour earlier this year, he felt as though his inter-county career may be winding down. Himself and Barry Solan, who helps Mayo with their strength and conditioning, had a open, honest chat and he decided he would not be throwing in the towel. He recalled:
“On that time, we met with Eanna Falvey, my body was in bits at the time. The three of us sat down together and the boys went down through a programme and made it between the two of them.”
Moran worked out an altered, tailored training plan and different shooting drills to ease the impact on his body.
The Ballaghadreen clubman turned 34 on Thursday but he is determined to put himself through another arduous winter of training and preparations.
He wants one of those All-Irelands that Cluxton is making a habit of claiming.
