John Fogarty: My early picks for the hurling All-Stars

This is the current state of play. We wouldn’t be surprised if come October, when the actual All-Stars are handed out, if other players have forced their way into contention.

ALL-STAR: Brian Hayes scores Cork's fifth goal in the All Ireland senior hurling quarter-final against Offaly at Semple Stadium. Pic: Noel Sweeney

Four Cork, seven Limerick. We can smell the kerosene off the torches now.

But hold up. This is the current state of play. We wouldn’t be surprised if come October, when the actual All-Stars are handed out, those numbers are reversed.

Darragh Fitzgibbon would be in but for his appendix operation. Seán O’Donoghue, Rob Downey, Shane Barrett and Alan Connolly come close but then so did Cian Lynch, William O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Connor.

Clare are not represented, their best shouts as of now are Eibhear Quilligan, Mark Rodgers and Tony Kelly.

You would think Galway will have one, if not two young hurler of the year contenders in Aaron Niland and Jason Rabbitte but we include neither nor Conor Whelan, who had a fine Leinster campaign.

Both Dublin and Offaly should each pick up a couple of nominations come August or September but neither have representatives who have done enough to make the cut.

All complaints to… well, you know the email address.

Nickie Quaid (Limerick)

Billy Nolan led for weeks and Quiligan has come into the reckoning. Still, Quaid’s shot-stopping and variation of puck-out is unparalleled this year.

Niall O’Leary (Cork)

Pat Ryan showed faith in his corner-backs last year after some struggles in 2024. Ben O’Connor feels the same and O’Leary is as resolute as they get.

Daithí Burke (Galway)

Hurling’s bionic man. He thought he dislocated his knee in the Leinster final and played on to have a stormer. Likely requires an ankle operation too. Bear.

Barry Nash (Limerick)

Ben Conneely will be a nomination. Dan Morrissey is quickly progressing since starting against Waterford. Nash’s flare in a foreign part of the field continues to light.

Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)

That previous couple of seasons were middling ones for the Patrickswell man but he is in the form that won his four straight All-Stars between 2020 and ’23.

Pádraic Mannion (Galway)

Few half-backs do their work so diligently as Mannion. His ability to read the game is second to none. William O’Donoghue and Rob Downey are in the shake-up.

Mark Coleman (Cork)

One Cork player who didn’t disappoint in the last two All-Ireland finals and the vice-captain is having his best season since his breakthrough year in 2017.

Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)

While his Doon club-mate Adam English’s form has fluctuated slightly, O’Donovan has been a constant. He was the best outfield player in the Munster final.

Tim O’Mahony (Cork)

Brian Hayes is a strong contender too, but he was quieter in the last two games. O’Mahony was the stand-out midfielder in the Munster round-robin.

Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)

Hegarty’s form didn’t dip like his totemic colleague Byrnes. However, he is hitting levels last reached during the county’s All-Ireland winning seasons.

Cathal Mannion (Galway)

Mannion, when he is fit, has everything and at 31 is only getting better. He showed his versatility in blunting Dublin in the Leinster final.

Cathal O’Neill (Limerick)

He’s compiled an impressive body of work going back to the latter part of the league. Keeping Tom Morrissey out of the team takes some doing.

Stephen Bennett (Waterford)

The 1,500th All-Star scored 4-34 in two and a half games of hurling. All but two of them points came in the games against Clare and Tipperary.

Brian Hayes (Cork)

A hat-trick on Sunday was a reminder of just how impactful he can be and he scored 2-13 across the Munster championship. More than just a target man.

Peter Casey (Limerick)

Eoghan Cahill, Whelan and Rabbitte all have to be mentioned. Casey’s scoring tallies might always reflect his work-rate but they are this term.

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