Three in a row MacCarthy Cup champions Limerick are the commanding force in today’s announcement of PwC All-Star hurling nominations for 2022 with 12 places in the coveted shortlist of 45 names.
Winners of a record 12 PwC All-Stars last year, the Treaty County continue to have the highest representation on the back of their continuing all-conquering form with 10 counties in all featured.
Kilkenny’s 2021 All-Star goalkeeper Eoin Murphy will be up against Limerick number one Nickie Quaid and Galway’s Éanna Murphy for the award.
Embed from Getty ImagesA winner of four PwC All-Stars in a row, Limerick’s Seán Finn is again nominated among the best 18 defenders of 2022 and is joined by colleagues Barry Nash, Mike Casey, Diarmaid Byrnes and Declan Hannon.
Four of Kilkenny’s eight nominees in total are in defence with Clare also receiving four nominations at the back, with Galway having three and Cork’s Ciarán Joyce and Wexford’s Damien Reck also acknowledged for their great form.
Clare’s run to an epic Munster final and to the All-Ireland semi-finals is reflected in a haul of eight nominees in total and with David Fitzgerald and Ryan Taylor being named in the six-man shortlist for centre field, completed by Limerick’s William O’Donoghue, Kilkenny’s Adrian Mullen, Galway’s Tom Monaghan and Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork.
After another high scoring summer, Limerick’s impressive attack is dominant in the 18 names listed. Galway have strong contenders in Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion and Joseph Cooney. Following hauls of 59 points and 58 points which left them fourth and fifth place respectively in the overall Championship scoring charts, Dublin’s Dónal Burke and Westmeath’s Killian Doyle deservedly feature with Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell, Lee Chin, Dessie Hutchinson, Noel McGrath and Robbie O’Flynn also having their strong form recognised.
Hurler and young hurler of the year
Embed from Getty ImagesThe overall PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year titles are voted on exclusively by the inter-county players themselves. Kilkenny’s ever-green genius TJ Reid is in the three-man shortlist with Limerick’s defensive inspirations Barry Nash and Diarmaid Byrnes for company.
Current holder Eoin Cody is again eligible for the Young Hurler award and is named along with teammate Mikey Butler and Cork’s Ciarán Joyce.
Dating back to 1971, the All-Stars are selected by a team of GAA journalists from across print, radio, digital, tv and broadcast media. There will be two additional hurling selections honoured to cover outstanding players in the Joe McDonagh Cup and a Champion 15 from across the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cup campaigns.
The PwC All-Stars will be presented at a black-tie banquet in Dublin’s Convention Centre on Friday, October 28 shown live on RTE tv. The hurling team will be announced live on the night with the football team being released publicly 24 hours earlier.
PwC All-Stars Hurling Nominations 2022
Goalkeepers
Éanna Murphy (Galway)
Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
Defenders
Seán Finn (Limerick)
Barry Nash (Limerick)
Mike Casey (Limerick)
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
Declan Hannon (Limerick)
Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)
Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
Richie Reid (Kilkenny)
Paddy Deegan (Kilkenny)
Paul Flanagan (Clare)
John Conlon (Clare)
Diarmuid Ryan (Clare)
David McInerney (Clare)
Daithí Burke (Galway)
Fintan Burke (Galway)
Pádraic Mannion (Galway)
Ciarán Joyce (Cork)
Damien Reck (Wexford)
Midfielders
David Fitzgerald Clare)
Ryan Taylor (Clare)
Tom Monaghan (Galway)
Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
William O’Donoghue (Limerick)
Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny)
Forwards
Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
Séamus Flanagan (Limerick)
TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Eoin Cody (Kilkenny)
Conor Whelan (Galway)
Cathal Mannion (Galway)
Joseph Cooney (Galway)
Tony Kelly (Clare)
Shane O’Donnell (Clare)
Robbie O’Flynn (Cork)
Dessie Hutchinson (Waterford)
Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
Lee Chin (Wexford)
Dónal Burke (Dublin)
Killian Doyle (Westmeath)
PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year Nominees
Embed from Getty ImagesTJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
Barry Nash (Limerick)
PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year Nominees
Ciarán Joyce (Cork)
Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)
Eoin Cody (Kilkenny)
Who would you pick? While deciding why not listen back to one of the many career retrospectives we have had with a previous All-Star on The Clash Act?
