Six Clare hurlers receive All Star nominations

SIX Clare hurlers have been included among the 45 All Star nominees.

Broadford’s Niall O’Farrell and Seán Rynne of Inagh/Kilnamona receive their first-ever All Star nominations with goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan, captain Tony Kelly, wing back Diarmuid Ryan and full-forward Peter Duggan also making the shortlist.

Eibhear Quilligan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

Netminder Quilligan receives an All Star nomination for the fourth time. He returned to action ahead of schedule at the beginning of 2026, recovering from an MCL injury to help lead Clare’s return to the top tier of the Allianz National Hurling League. He produced a man of the match display in the All-Ireland quarter-final when pulling off seven saves against Dublin to help Clare qualify for the last four, this was one of two championship games where he kept clean sheets, the other seeing Clare defeat Tipperary 1-25 0-17.

Niall O’Farrell. Photograph: Ruthie Griffin.

In his first starting season, O’Farrell’s showings at wing back have been recognised, his debut campaign seeing him nail down a starting berth in defence. He featured for every minute of Clare’s Munster SHC run and scored a point from wing back in the All-Ireland quarter-final wing over Dublin. A Croke Cup winner with Ard Scoil Rís, the semi-final loss to Limerick was his first outing in Croke Park since winning the All-Ireland PPS competition in 2022 when he finished as top scorer.

A member of the Clare senior hurling panel since 2023, this year marked the breakthrough season for a patient Seán Rynne. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and finished the championship with a personal tally of 0-14, all of which came from play and included bursts of five points against both Waterford and Dublin. His younger brother Conor was part of the All-Ireland and Munster U20 winning panel this season.

Diarmuid Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

Cratloe’s Diarmuid Ryan is nominated for an All Star for the fourth time. The primary school teacher made his championship debut in 2019 and has been an ever-present member of the starting side every championship year since. In 2024, he was presented with the Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award when graduating from Mary Immaculate College. His older brother Conor won an All Star in 2013 after delivering a man of the match display in the drawn All-Ireland final of that year.

Following that All-Ireland winning season thirteen years ago, Tony Kelly was named both Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year, the Ballyea man continues to light it up on the biggest stage and is acknowledged once again with an All Star nomination at midfield. Already with five All Stars in his collection, he is Clare’s record All Star winner. He scored 1-5 in Clare’s All-Ireland semi-final loss to Limerick and a total of 2-31 acorss the championship.

Peter Duggan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

An All Star winner in 2018, Peter Duggan is nominated for the third time. The Clooney/Quin clubman once again gave every last ounce drop when wearing the saffron and blue in 2026, scoring 1-11 including two sideline cuts. He was primarily positioned at full forward this season but drifted between there and the half-forward line.

All-Ireland champions Limerick have received thirteen nominations. Beaten finalists Galway have eleven players shortlisted with Cork (seven), Clare (six), Dublin (three), Waterford (two), Offaly (two) and Kilkenny (one) completing the line-up.

Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearoid Hegarty who were named Hurler of the Year in 2022 and 2020 respectively are nominated for the honour once again alongside Cork forward Brian Hayes. The winner will be chosen by the players.

Nominated for Young Hurler of the Year are Galway duo Jason Rabbitte and Cillian Travers along with Cork’s William Buckley.

The All-Stars were first held in 1971. This year’s awards will be presented at a gala black-tie function held at Dublin’s RDS and shown live on RTÉ on Friday, October 30. The nominations were chosen by a panel of Gaelic games correspondents from across print, radio, tv and digital media, chaired by Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns.

PwC All-Stars Hurling Nominations 2026

Goalkeepers

Billy Nolan (Waterford)
Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
Éibhear Quilligan (Clare)

Defenders

Seán Finn (Limerick)
William O’Donoghue (Limerick)
Barry Nash (Limerick)
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
Darren Morrissey (Galway)
Pádraic Mannion (Galway)
Daithí Burke (Galway)
Cillian Trayers (Galway)
Ronan Glennon (Galway)
Seán O’Donoghue (Cork)
Niall O’Leary (Cork)
Mark Coleman (Cork)
Rob Downey (Cork)
Niall O’Farrell (Clare)
Diarmuid Ryan (Clare)
Ben Conneely (Offaly)
Paddy Smyth (Dublin)

Midfielders

Cian Lynch (Limerick)
Adam English (Limerick)
Cathal Mannion (Galway)
Tony Kelly (Clare)
Brian Hayes (Dublin)
Cian Kenny (Kilkenny)

Forwards

Cathal O’Neill (Limerick)
Aidan O’Connor (Limerick)
Peter Casey (Limerick)
Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
Shane O’Brien (Limerick)
Jason Rabbitte (Galway)
Tom Monaghan (Galway)
Darragh Neary (Galway)
Conor Whelan (Galway)
Aaron Niland (Galway)
Shane Barrett (Cork)
William Buckley (Cork)
Brian Hayes (Cork)
Peter Duggan (Clare)
Seán Rynne (Clare)
Dónal Burke (Dublin)
Eoghan Cahill (Offaly)
Stephen Bennett (Waterford)