By John Haughey BBC Sport Online

As ever, the Allstars football selection has generated plenty of controversy.

The omission of Cork star Colin Corkery is the big talking point of this year's Gaelic football team of the year.

I find myself in agreement with Cork manager Larry Tompkins that the Allstar selectors have blundered this year in leaving out the burly Corkery.

Certainly, Corkery's uncharacteristically petulant performance in Cork's horror-day All-Ireland Semi-Final defeat by Kerry didn't show the big man in a particularly favourable light.

However, did that day sully his previous brilliance to the extent that he shouldn't have made the team? I think not.

I was surprised that Kevin Cassidy caught the eye of the Dublin media men

Corkery was the third highest scorer in this year's championship and his all-round displays prior to the All-Ireland Semi-Final, rubbished the view expressed by some that he's merely a superb free-taker.

The big Corkman's omission apart, I can't quibble much with the selection.

Yours truly wasn't the only person in the BBC NI Sports office to be a tad surprised that Donegal's Kevin Cassidy got the nod at left half-back.

Presumably, the fact that he was one of the few Donegal players to come out with any credit after the All-Ireland Quarter-Final replay hammering by the Dubs swayed the large southern-based selectors.

John McEntee: Unlucky to miss out

Personally, I would have moved Galway's Declan Meehan across from his regular number five role to take the other wing-back berth.

After all, Galway did win the Connacht title (OK...so no big deal) but John O'Mahony's team didn't even get one award.

For sure, Armagh's John McEntee is unlucky not to have picked up the centre half-forward award.

Big Joe Kernan is probably right that John Mac would have been a virtual certainly for the award had he not been forced to leave the field prematurely in the All-Ireland decider.

But in the end, it was very hard to argue against Eamon O'Hara.

His performance in Sligo's rout of Tyrone was inspirational and he maintained a high standard in the Yeat County's two games against Armagh.

Paul McGrane just about deserved to hold off Ciaran Whelan for the second midfield slot

Ronan Clarke is in the same boat as McEntee.

His displays throughout the year were simply outstanding but Ray Cosgrove produced a remarkable season of goal-grabbing.

The fact that the majority of the Allstars selectors are based in the capital meant Ray was always going to be a certainly for one of the gongs.

Six Allstars for Armagh is about right with Paul McGrane just about deserving to hold off Ciaran Whelan for the second midfield slot alongside Darragh O Se.

There have been a few murmurings from down south suggesting that Peter Canavan's award was "tokenistic".

Peter Canavan: Deserved award

What rubbish!

Granted, Canavan didn't have a good day against Sligo but, as Brian O'Driscoll pointed out after Ireland's Six Nations trouncing at Twickenham last Spring, "you can't do much without the ball".

Canavan excelled in the National League and has produced similarly magnificent performances for Errigal Ciaran in recent weeks.

The selectors got it right it overlooking the claims of Chris Lawn for the full-back role.

Lawn had probably his best year for Tyrone but not quite good enough to edge out Dublin's Paddy Christie.

There was also the small matter of that Sligo game when the Tyrone defence was roasted by O'Hara and company.

Email: john.haughey@bbc.co.uk