It’s shaping up to be a pretty good week for the Ballyhale Shamrocks camp.
While they’re looking forward to their Club All-Ireland medal presentation and race day at Gowran Park this Saturday, eight of the senior team have also found their way onto the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year as revealed this morning (Tuesday).
Not only that, but the Kilkenny senior champions’ Joey Holden and Adrian Mullen also find themselves in the running for the AIB GAA Club Hurling Player of the Year alongside Stephen O’Keeffe from All-Ireland semi-finalists Ballygunner. The overall Player of the Year for hurling and football will be announced this Friday.
The Lion’s Share
Following their All-Ireland success, Ballyhale Shamrocks dominate the selection on the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year, with the Kilkenny outfit receiving eight nods for selection, after they scooped their ninth AIB GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Club Championship title this season. They overcame the devastation of last year’s final, which saw them lose out at the hands of Ballygunner in a thriller, and marched on this year to overcome Ulster champions, Dunloy in the final. Ballyhale’s Killian Corcoran and Joey Holden have been named in the full-back line, with Richie Reid and Darragh Corcoran featuring in the half-back line. Adrian Mullen is named at midfield, while Eoin Cody, TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly all feature in the forward line for the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year.
All-Ireland finalists and Ulster champions Dunloy have three players named on the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year following a stellar season that saw them claim the Ulster title once again and reach a fifth All-Ireland final. Ryan McGarry and Kevin Molloy have been named in the Team of the Year back line, while Conal Cunning has been selected at corner forward. Munster champions and All-Ireland semi-finalists, Ballygunner, round out the selection for the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year, with four players named on the team. Stephen O’Keeffe takes the slot between the posts for the Waterford side, while Conor Sheahan joins Ballyhale’s Adrian Mullen at midfield, and Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald have been named in the forward line.
2022 AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year
- Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
- Killian Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Ryan McGarry (Dunloy)
- Kevin Molloy (Dunloy)
- Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Conor Sheahan (Ballygunner)
- Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
- Conal Cunning (Dunloy)
- Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner)
2022 AIB GAA Club Hurling Player of the Year Nominees
- Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
- Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
If you’re in Kilkenny this weekend, the presentation of Shamrocks’ All-Ireland medals will take place at the Holden Plant Rentals race day at Gowran Park this Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available at GowranPark.ie.
