Hot on the heels of last week’s AIB Camogie Club Championship Team of the Year, which also saw Dicksboro’s Aoife Prendergast named club player of the year, the 2023 football and hurling teams of the year have been announced.
On the hurling front, the Burkes and Cooneys of St Thomas’ backbone the team after their All-Ireland final triumph with the Connacht club also taking six slots.
The Galway champions have Gerald Kelly honoured in goal after his expert guardianship of the St Thomas’ net. Fintan Burke is full-back after his towering displays while the influential Shane Cooney is named wing-back. Ever-green star David Burke is in midfield while shining lights of the attack Conor Cooney and Éanna Burke are centre and full forward respectively.
Leinster champions and All-Ireland finalists O’Loughlin Gaels are well represented with Huw Lawlor a unanimous choice in the full-back line and David Fogarty and Paddy Deegan in front of him after their impressive seasons and Mark Bergin rewarded for his stellar form in attack.
Munster champions Ballygunner are represented by Dessie Hutchinson winning his third Club Player Award since 2020, with Paddy Leavey honoured for the second year in a row in midfield and Peter Hogan deservedly joining them. The team is completed by Cushendall players Paddy Burke at cornerback and Neil McManus at the top of the left.
Player of the Year
Also announced on the night will be the overall AIB GAA Club Footballer and Hurler of the Year. St Brigid’s star forward Ben O’Carroll, Kilmacud Crokes’ sharpshooter Shane Walsh and Watty Graham’s inspirational midfielder Conor Glass are the nominees for the football prize.
In hurling, O’Loughin Gaels’ pillars David Fogarty and Paddy Deegan are shortlisted after they spearheaded the Kilkenny champions drive for Croke Park and alongside them is St Thomas’ hero David Burke who was prolific when he was needed most.
The players will be honoured at a special function at Croke Park this Friday, where they will be presented with their awards by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns.
2023 AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year
- Gerald Kelly (St Thomas’)
- Paddy Burke (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall)
- Fintan Burke (St Thomas’)
- Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
- David Fogarty (O’Loughlin Gaels)
- Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
- Shane Cooney (St Thomas’)
- David Burke (St Thomas’)
- Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner)
- Mark Bergin (O’Loughlin Gaels)
- Conor Cooney (St Thomas’)
- Peter Hogan (Ballygunner)
- Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)
- Éanna Burke (St Thomas’)
- Neil McManus (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall)
