*John Conlon is among the Clare nominations. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
14 Clare hurlers have been nominated for All Star awards off the back of a season which saw Brian Lohan’s side crowned All-Ireland SHC champions.
Shane O’Donnell is the favourite to be named as Hurler of the Year where he is nominated alongside Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork and Limerick’s Kyle Hayes.
Corner back Adam Hogan is nominated for Young Hurler of the Year for a second year running. The Feakle man is shortlisted alongside Cathal O’Neill from Limerick and Cork defender Eoin Downey.
Clare’s nominees include Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen, Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney, Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rodgers, Aidan McCarthy, Peter Duggan, David Fitzgerald and David Reidy.
Cathal Malone, Clare’s unsung hero is the only member of the starting team in the All-Ireland final to miss out on a nomination.
There are eight counties represented in total. The breakdown is Clare 14, Cork 10, Limerick nine, Kilkenny four, with Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Antrim having two representatives each.
PwC Hurling All-Stars Nominations
Goalkeepers
Patrick Collins (Cork)
Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
Eibhear Quilligan (Clare)
Defenders
Adam Hogan (Clare)
Conor Cleary (Clare)
Conor Leen (Clare)
Diarmuid Ryan (Clare)
John Conlon (Clare)
David McInerney (Clare)
Eoin Downey (Cork)
Robert Downey (Cork)
Ciarán Joyce (Cork)
Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
Barry Nash (Limerick)
Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
David Blanchfield (Kilkenny)
Calum Lyons (Waterford)
Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford)
Chris Crummey (Dublin)
Paddy Burke (Antrim)
Midfielders
Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
Tim O’Mahony (Cork)
Tony Kelly (Clare)
Cathal O’Neill (Limerick)
Conor Burke (Dublin)
Cian Kenny (Kilkenny)
Forwards
Shane O’Donnell (Clare)
Mark Rodgers (Clare)
Aidan McCarthy (Clare)
Peter Duggan (Clare)
David Fitzgerald (Clare)
David Reidy (Clare)
Shane Barrett (Cork)
Seamus Harnedy (Cork)
Patrick Horgan (Cork)
Brian Hayes (Cork)
Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
David Reidy (Limerick)
Lee Chin (Wexford)
Rory O’Connor (Wexford)
John Donnelly (Kilkenny)
James McNaughton (Antrim)
PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year Nominees
Shane O’Donnell (Clare)
Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year Nominees
Adam Hogan (Clare)
Eoin Downey (Cork)
Cathal O’Neill (Limerick)
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “After yet another sensational season of hurling, it was no easy task to whittle that stellar field to this list of 45 and that is why I want to salute all of those who have been shortlisted for a PwC Hurling All-Star today. This panel of players were influential in providing us with a summer that gave us so much joy through their feats of hurling skill.
“This recognition will mean a lot to their families and clubs, and I also congratulate our nominees for the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year. I want to acknowledge the support of PwC and the GPA for ensuring that the All-Stars continues to be such an important part of the GAA’s annual calendar.”
GPA CEO Tom Parsons said: “What a year it has been for hurling, capped off by a final for the ages in which Clare and Cork served up a reminder, as if it were needed, of how blessed we are all across Ireland and across the world, to call this game ‘ours”.
Nominations were chosen by a panel of Gaelic Games journalists from across, print, radio, TV and digital media. The All-Stars scheme dates back to 1971, and the PwC Hurling All-Stars will be announced live on RTÉ tv at a special banquet in the RDS on Friday, November 1st – the 140th anniversary of the formation of the GAA.
