All-Ireland champions Clare dominate All Star awards

Clare have crowned their All-Ireland title with an impressive haul of eight All Stars - three backs and a trio of forwards as well as the two midfielders.

It emulates their 1995 total when Ger Loughnane led them to their first Liam MacCarthy Cup since 1914 and bests their six awards in '97.

The eight also replicates the impressive collection of Kilkenny's two years ago, just one short of the record of nine achieved by the Cats in 2000 and '08.

Their octet are David McInerney, Brendan Bugler, captain Patrick Donnellan, Colm Galvin and Conor Ryan, Tony Kelly, Podge Collins and Conor McGrath.

All-Ireland and Munster finalists Cork have to make do with three awards - the worst return from runners-up since Waterford five years ago. Anthony Nash, Seamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan have been chosen while Shane O'Neill and Daniel Kearney might count themselves unfortunate to miss out.

There are an incredible 12 first time winners, the other three being Cork goalkeeper Nash and Clare right half back Brendan Bugler who each win their second successive awards and Liam Rushe who repeats his 2011 acknowledgement.

Interestingly, among the 12 are five U21s - the Clare quartet of U21 hurler of the year McInerney, Galvin, Kelly, Collins and Dublin's Danny Sutcliffe.

In winning three, Dublin have beaten their previous best return earned in 2011 when Rushe and Gary Maguire picked up gongs.

Richie McCarthy in the full-back line is the sole representative of Munster champions Limerick.

In all, four counties comprise the 15 - the four All-Ireland semi-finalists. It also marks the first time since 1996 that Kilkenny haven't pick up an All Star.

Paul Murphy was also unlucky not to be chosen as was Clare's top freetaker Colin Ryan, the highest scorer in this year's Championship with 0-70.

2013 All Stars:

Anthony Nash (Cork); Richie McCarthy (Limerick), Peter Kelly (Dublin), David McInerney (Clare); Brendan Bugler (Clare), Liam Rushe (Dublin), Patrick Donnellan (Clare); Colm Galvin (Clare), Conor Ryan (Clare); Seamus Harnedy (Cork), Tony Kelly (Clare), Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin); Pádraic Collins (Clare), Patrick Horgan (Cork), Conor McGrath (Clare).