‘A team that almost picked itself’
In fact, said GAA president Christy Cooney, who chaired both selection meetings, it was a team that almost picked itself. “The whole process took only about 15 minutes, and you can see why – those are all quality players, all well-deserved.”
The selection is notable for the fact the record eight-in-a-row run of Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin came to an end. The Ballyhale star was well on course to extend his record, but an injury suffered in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Cork cost him dearly. Kilkenny do keep that run going, however, wing-back Tommy Walsh joining Henry on that record, the Tullaroan terrier winning his eighth in succession last night.
All-Ireland champions Tipperary lead the way with six (Brendan Cummins, Paul Curran, Brendan Maher, Noel McGrath, Lar Corbett and team captain Eoin Kelly), with 19-yr-old McGrath winning his second. A sign of the times, said Christy. “A lot of very young players won nominations, which is tremendous, bodes well for the future of hurling.
“A lot of players in a lot of counties are getting on teams now at 19, 20, because of the levels of fitness and the level of skill development. It was a tremendous All-Ireland final, only right and proper that Tipperary and Kilkenny got the bulk of the awards (the Cats got five – Jackie Tyrell, wing-backs Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney, midfielder Michael Fennelly and full-forward Richie Power), but I’m delighted for Waterford also, three awards, and that was recognition that the Munster championship still holds value.”
One of those Waterford players is corner-forward John Mullane, winning his third, and for John, disappointing though it was to lose to Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final, this was indeed recognition of their achievement in winning a very competitive Munster championship.
“Waterford hurling has made great strides in the last 10 years, and it’s the All-Ireland title we’re after, but any time Waterford beat Cork in the Munster final is a huge occasion for us, and I say that with the greatest of respect for Cork. Back in the 80s, Waterford were getting beaten by Cork by over 20 points in the Munster final, and it wasn’t pretty.
“Any time you beat Cork you earn it, and it took two games this year. This gives us something from the year, with three of us on the team; there were many years when Waterford had no-one even nominated, never mind winning awards.”
Another man who saw the award as consolation for what ended as a disappointing season – beaten by a last-minute point by Tipperary in the All-Ireland quarter-final – was Galway’s Damien Hayes, a standout performer through league (won by Galway) and championship.
“It’s a huge honour to even be nominated, but to be selected is unbelievable – I won’t lie to you, I’m very proud right now. The biggest prize of all is the All-Ireland medal, and this is an individual honour, but’s a great honour – I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Surprisingly, however, the man whose stellar season was capped off with both an award and the hurler-of-the-year accolade, was less than overwhelmed by it all. “I wasn’t one bit nervous coming up here today,” said Tipperary’s Lar Corbett, hat-trick hero and man-of-the-match in the All-Ireland final.
“Everything was out of my control, other people were making those decisions and if I didn’t get an award, I didn’t get it. The matches, that’s what I worry about – you can do something about that. It’s a great honour, don’t get me wrong, and getting the hurler-of-the-year especially, but all these individual awards come second to the championship.
“I don’t know how that sounds but it’s like this – we (Tipp players) were very disappointed up here last year collecting All Star awards, having lost the All-Ireland final. The first Sunday in September, that’s what it’s all about to me. That’s what we start training for, the first week in January, the All-Ireland final.
“All these awards are great, and you do appreciate them if you’re lucky enough to get them, but that’s out of your hands – a bonus, that’s what they are.”
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