...but just four Dublin players make our back-to-back team

1 Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)

He has redefined the goalkeeper’s position and still has no equal with the ball at his feet.

2 Robbie O’Malley (Meath)

A superb man-marking cornerback but he could go and play, too.

3 Mick Lyons (Meath)

Not born but chiselled, few defenders in the modern age were blessed with his presence.

4 Marc Ó Sé (Kerry)

There were strike forwards less gifted with the technical ability of the Gaeltacht man.

5 Tomas Ó Sé (Kerry)

Man marking was not his forte, but he was so strong on the ball that he was one who required watching.

6 Séamus Moynihan (Kerry)

Could have played anywhere and did: won player of the year at full-back.

7 Martin O’Connell (Meath)

Powerful and pacey, knew when to stay and go, he could still give a master-class on wing-back play.

8 Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry)

provided with more than just a regular supply of ball, he also supplied them with their edge.

9 Larry Tompkins (Cork)

Cork’s golden era would have been still-born had not the former Kildare star settled by the Lee.

10 Paul Flynn (Dublin)

The irony is that he may be in decline as the team he drove for so long hits its peak, but those four consecutive All-Stars he won are a measure of the player he was.

11 Declan O’Sullivan (Kerry)

A forward of ridiculous talent, who was born to lead and did that to some effect.

12 Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin)

Has yet to fully deliver on his incredible technical ability, but playing on a team like this you just know that he would shoot for the stars.

13 Colm Cooper (Kerry)

Quite simply a genius, which might explain his status as an eighttime All-Star recipient. In this team of stars, he gets head-billing.

14 Colm O’Rourke (Meath)

Big, strong and hard, but he had feet that could make the ball talk.

15 Bernard Brogan (Dublin)

A prolific inside forward, blessed with the movement and finishing skills to kill.