Hurling: Wide of the Mark, boys

JAMESIE O'Connor believes teaching colleague Mark Kerins should have been given an All Star place ahead of him.

Clare's ace marksman was the surprise choice on the 2001 AllStars hurling team, gaining the centre half-forward berth despite playing only one championship match.

"Naturally, I'm delighted," O'Connor said. "It's a fantastic honour. But I was very surprised to be chosen.

"If I had been selecting the AllStars team, Mark Kerins would undoubtedly have been at centre half-forward.

"I'm working with Mark at St Flannan's in Ennis and to be entirely honest I was embarrassed when I met him at school after the team had been announced. I felt sorry for Mark."

Clare were eliminated from the Munster title race on the first Sunday of June when they were edged out by a point against All- Ireland champions-elect Tipperary.

O'Connor and centre half-back Seanie McMahon were the only Clare players to truly impress in that match, but O'Connor's form in the preceding Allianz League clearly played a big part in his AllStar selection.

But he added: "Mark is a great hurler and I know he will win AllStar awards in the future, but I felt he deserved to be selected this time.

"He was excellent for Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny and had a great second-half in the final against Tipperary.

"I presume my league form was taken into consideration when the team was being chosen.

"I played very well in the match against Limerick and in the semi- final against Kilkenny and was quite good in the final against Tipperary.

"But I'm still surprised at being chosen for an AllStar award ahead of Mark."

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