Here they are...the 2007 Ledcor GAA All-Stars of Western Canada
By RONAN DEANE
After sifting through the nominations of the clubs in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, the very first annual Ledcor All-Star selections were announced on September 28, to much hype and fanfare.
Comments are flying in from all over the world as to the accuracy of the selections, however these were guided by the clubs in both Alberta and British Columbia. More structure will follow in 2008 no doubt. Few will argue that this year's selections represent the very best that the West has to offer.
In the Men's, Calgary (the Champs) have four players selected, three from Vancouver, two from Edmonton and two from Red Deer.
Notable mentions were Brenden O'Hara (Calgary), Peter Markey (Vancouver), Brian Byrne (Edmonton) and Blaine Lavery (Red Deer). A good spread, with Red Deer having two players named even though they are a club in their infancy.
Calgary's performances in their dominant display in Edmonton last Canada Day weekend have given them the bulk of the selections. Of course, they will remember Peter Agnew's guiding of the Vancouver Harps to two tournament titles in 2007. The Gaelic footballing legends of Alberta, Colin Baugh (Edmonton) and Adrian Lagan (Calgary) give this team plenty of experience.
In the Ladies', Vancouver (the Champs) have five players selected, four from Edmonton, one from Calgary and one from Calgary/Red Deer.
Notable mentions were Kate Bohan, Tanya St. John, Elan Park, Sandra Parriere (Vancouver), Kim Budd and Pam Mathieu (Edmonton), and Maeve McKiernan (Calgary).
The Edmonton girls have the Baldwin sisters named; one keeping the goals out (Alecia) and one banging them in (Ainsley). Newcomers to the Gaelic Games feature in this selection with Rene McGloin, Stephanie Hahn (both Vancouver), and Radean Adams (Red
Deer) picked in their first year playing the games.
Along with Ainsley Baldwin, five girls that played in the Canada team from 2005 continue to stamp their class in the Western provinces; Tara Philips and Cathy Jackson of Vancouver, Mandy Tuohy of Calgary and Carlin Achison Johnston of Edmonton all stand-out performers.
Dawn Krawchuk (Edmonton) and Katrina McAndrew (Vancouver) round out the selections and show that hard work and no amount of guts will also be noticed by the selection panel.
The Western Canada Division of the GAA and Ledcor Group of Companies are delighted to name the 2007 selections and congratulate all those players that made the cut.
The following are the 2007 Western GAA All-Stars:
Men's Selection:
Gary McCaffrey (Goalkeeper) - Calgary
Jerry Murphy (Full Back) - Vancouver
Tom McRae (Halfback) - Calgary
Tim Hammill (Midfield - Calgary
Rory Lynch (Half Forward) - Red Deer
Adrian Lagan (Full Forward) - Calgary
Mick O'Toole (Full Back) - Red Deer
Peter Agnew (Half Back) Vancouver
Brian Daly (Midfield) - Edmonton
Colin Baugh (Half Forward) - Edmonton
Derek Healy (Full Forward) - Vancouver
Women's Selection:
Dawn Krawchuk (Full Back) - Edmonton
Mandy Tuohy (Halfback) - Calgary
Cathy Jackson (Midfield) - Vancouver
Carlin Achison (Half Forward) - Edmonton
Ainsely Baldwin (Full Forward) Edmonton
Stephanie Hahn (Full Back) Vancouver
Radean Adams (Half Back) Red Deer
Rene McGloin (Midfield) Vancouver
Katrina McAndrew (Half Forward) Vancouver
Tara Philips (Full Forward) Vancouver
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