*Shane O’Donnell with Aron Shanagher. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEVEN Clare hurlers have been included on the RTÉ Sunday Game team of the year.
Clare lead the way with seven members of the fifteen as chosen by the analysts of The Sunday Game. Beaten finalists Cork are close behind with six and the final two spots are obtained by Limerick meaning it is an all Munster line-up.
Shane O’Donnell was chosen as the Hurler of the Year by The Sunday Game panel and was also named at full-forward on the side.
A remarkable first season at senior inter-county for Conor Leen has been recognised with him getting the nod at corner back, the other corner filled by Adam Hogan who is a leading contender for Young Hurler of the Year.
Mark Rodgers who won the accolade last year is picked at corner forward with David Fitzgerald the scorer of 0-3 in the All-Ireland final selected at wing forward.
Captain Tony Kelly is picked at midfield with fellow two-time All-Ireland winner David McInerney completing the Clare contingent at wing back.
All Star awards will be given out in November with Clare expected to feature prominently in the chosen fifteen and individual accolades.
Former Hurler of the Year, Joe Canning said on the selection of O’Donnell, “Shane O’Donnell throughout the year was just phenomenal for Clare, maybe today wasn’t his best day, he was carrying a bit of an injury in the second half with his shoulder and he came off near the end with a cramp, the stuff he was doing throughout the Munster championship, the quarter-final, the semi-final and even today when the need was most in the first half, he was brilliant”.
Two-time All-Ireland winning Clare captain, Anthony Daly spoke of the leadership shown by the Ennis man, “the concussion injury was really serious, there was doubts whether he would work again, he couldn’t do anything but the leadership he has shown in the last three years is just incredible, he is everything if you were involved in coaching and I’m not as involved anymore, you’d be showing videos of the way he goes about it, the hand is up for everything, the turns and the strength for the goal”.
RTÉ Sunday Game Team of the Year:
1: Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
2: Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare)
3: Eoin Downey (Cork)
4: Conor Leen (Corofin, Clare)
5: David McInerney (Tulla, Clare)
6: Robert Downey (Cork)
7: Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
8: Tony Kelly (Ballyea, Clare)
9: Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
10: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona, Clare)
11: Shane Barrett (Cork)
12: Seamus Harnedy (Cork)
13: Mark Rodgers (Scariff, Clare)
14: Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg, Clare)
15: Brian Hayes (Cork)
Clare’s Shane O’Donnell is named Hurler of the Year by The Sunday Game panel
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 21, 2024
