All-Ireland champions Limerick claim seven PwC All-Star awards

In the 47 seasons between the first All-Stars in 1971 to 2017, Limerick won 47 awards and have now garnered 43 in the last six seasons.

Thu, 16 Nov, 2023 - 06:45

John Fogarty

Four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Limerick have brought their total PwC All-Star haul this decade to 35 with seven selections this year.

In the 47 seasons between the first All-Stars in 1971 to 2017, Limerick won 47 awards and have now garnered 43 in the last six seasons, Aaron Gillane claiming their 90th ever All-Star.

The same number of Limerick men were chosen in the best 15 in 2022 as well as ’18 when they began this period of dominance. All three hurler of the year nominees – Diarmaid Byrnes, Gillane and Kyle Hayes – are not surprisingly included.

In total, seven of last year’s All Stars feature again, three of the other four players hailing from Kilkenny – TJ Reid, who turns 36 today and full-backs Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor – along with Clare’s Shane O’Donnell.

Dan Morrissey earns his third All-Star, his first in two years. Limerick’s midfielders Darragh O’Donovan and William O’Donoghue also bridge a two-year gap to their debut All-Stars in 2021.

Scooping his third award, Tom Morrissey is one behind Byrnes and Hayes. He and brother Dan have now won five All-Stars between them and after 2020 this is the second time they have both been acknowledged in the same 15.

All-Stars the last four seasons, 2022 hurler of the year Diarmaid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes match their injured team-mate Seán Finn who captured four on the bounce between 2018 and ’21.

It is Hayes’ third honour in defence, his 2022 tribute coming for his displays in attack.

All-Ireland runners-up Kilkenny’s haul of five is one better than 2022 when the margin between Limerick and them was seven points less.

Former young hurler of the year Eoin Cody is the sole first-time winner in the team.

Dan Morrissey of Limerick in action against Eoin Cody of Kilkenny during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Earning his fourth All-Star, Eoin Murphy is now one short of Brendan Cummins who is the second most decorated goalkeeper behind Murphy’s fellow Kilkenny man Noel Skehan.

In claiming his seventh All-Star, birthday boy Reid moves alongside Skehan and JJ Delaney as the joint fourth most honoured All-Star and four short of Henry Shefflin and two back of DJ Carey and Tommy Walsh who earned nine (Jimmy Barry-Murphy won seven between the two codes).

For the second year in a row, only the four All-Ireland semi-finalists make up the 15. Outside the finalists, Clare are represented by O’Donnell and centre-back John Conlon who wins his second All-Star five years after claiming his first at full-forward.

There is a six-year break between Galway forward Conor Whelan’s first All-Star and now.

Both Clare and Limerick have had at least one player among the 15 going back to 2018. Of the Limerick contingent, Mike Casey and Barry Nash were unfortunate to miss out, while Clare’s David Fitzgerald was also close to a second successive accolade and his colleague Tony Kelly also featured in discussions.

The hurler of the year award recipient will be revealed at the awards gala in the RDS, which will televised live on RTÉ2 tomorrow evening starting at 7.30pm. While Gillane is favourite, his Patrickswell club-mate Byrnes could become the second from the club to win a second after Cian Lynch.

Nominated for young (U22) hurler of the year are Clare pair Adam Hogan and Mark Rogers along with Cork centre-back Ciarán Joyce.

The All-Stars football team as well as the footballer and young footballer of the year will be announced on the show. 2022 winner David Clifford, two-time victor Brian Fenton and Derry midfielder Brendan Rogers are shortlisted for the main individual gong. Derry duo Ethan Doherty and Eoin McEvoy and Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll are in the shake-up for the U22 award.

GAA president Larry McCarthy commended the hurling winners. “I am delighted to congratulate the distinguished final 15 who have been selected for a PwC Hurling All-Star for 2023.

"The high-calibre list of nominations reflected what was yet another thrilling hurling season and this team represents the cream of that considerable crop.

"To join the illustrious ranks of the heroes who have been honoured with an All-Star since 1971 is a wonderful achievement and something that I am sure will be shared by your families and clubs.”

PwC All-Stars

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) 4th award (previously 2016, '18, '21).

2. Mikey Butler (Kilkenny) 2nd award (2022).

3. Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny) 2nd award (2022).

4. Dan Morrissey (Limerick) 3rd award (2018, '20).

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick) 4th award (2020-22).

6. John Conlon (Clare) 2nd award (2018).

7. Kyle Hayes (Limerick) 4th award (2020-22).

8. Darragh O'Donovan (Limerick) 2nd award (2021).

9. William O'Donoghue (Limerick) 2nd award (2021)

10. Shane O'Donnell (Clare) 2nd award (2022).

11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny) 7th award (2012, '14, '15, '19, '20, '22)