Invincible Kilkenny dominate honours

Seven from All-Ireland and league double champions Kilkenny, three from Clare, three from Waterford, two from Tipperary. They won’t be happy in Galway hurling circles today, nor in Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Offaly, Antrim or anywhere with serious pretensions on the national scene.

Still, no-one who has closely observed the hurling scene this year could seriously question the credentials of any of the current crop of Allstars, as announced live on RTÉ last night.

Kilkenny’s James McGarry had his champions for the keeper’s spot, and in truth he did little wrong . But Davy Fitz was hugely influential in Clare reaching this year’s final and will be a popular choice.

Likewise, Kilkenny team-mates Michael Kavanagh and Philly Larkin in the corner-backs slots were outstanding in the All-Ireland final though both must have been run very close by Cork’s Wayne Sherlock and Galway’s Ollie Canning.

Like Fitz, Brian Lohan would have been seen as a driving force behind Clare’s run, though here Kilkenny’s Noel Hickey can count himself unfortunate in a year in which apart from a few dicey moments against Cork in the league final he was never beaten.

The half-back line throws up a surprise, possibly two. Most predictions saw an all centre-back line, with Waterford’s Hartley and Kilkenny’s Barry expected to flank Seanie McMahon.

Didn’t happen. McMahon loses out but Paul Kelly more than earned his slot on the wing. McMahon however, who performing his defensive duties with aplomb contributed almost as much on the scoreboard as any of the Clare forwards, is as blatant an omission as Cork’s Colin Corkery in the football.

In midfield, Kilkenny’s All-Ireland winning captain Andy Comerford will be counted unlucky to lose out, but injury certainly cost him.

Lynch was an automatic and of the two Kilkenny midfielders, Lyng was the more consistent, though Comerford did perform heroically in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The forward sextet is almost without contention, though most unlucky of all forwards must be Ben O’Connor of Cork.

The two Eoin Kellys, Waterford and Tipperary on the wing and corner respectively, were dead certs on the back of consistently high performances, as was Henry Shefflin at centre-forward, inspirational all year for the League/Championship double winners, probable hurler-of-the-year.

Ken McGrath was one of the major forces behind Waterford’s breakthrough in Munster, while newcomer Martin Comerford, along with Lyng was the find of the season by Kilkenny manager Brian Cody.

As for the final slot well nothing to be said. Struck down first by injury, then by illness, DJ Carey played but two games for Kilkenny all season.

Those two performances however, were sheer brilliance, scoring or making the critical scores in the All-Ireland semi-final and final, scores that broke the heart of Tipp, then Clare. A vintage year, for a vintage player.

A few controversial omissions: McMahon, Hickey, Canning, probably in that order but generally along fairly predictable lines.

David Fitzgerald; Michael Kavanagh; Brian Lohan; Philly Larkin; Fergal Hartley; Peter Barry; Paul Kelly; Colin Lynch; Derek Lyng; Eoin Kelly; Henry Shefflin; Ken McGrath; Eoin Kelly; Martin Comerford and DJ Carey.