Limerick dominate All-Star nominations as shortlist revealed
Gearoid Hegarty has been nominated for the Hurler of the Year award alongside Diarmaid Byrnes
LIMERICK'S All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners have been honoured by leading the nominations for the All-Star awards.
Thirteen of John Kiely's players have been nominated for the personal accolades after a season that saw them that saw the Shannonsiders sweep league, Munster and All-Ireland glory.
Goalkeeper Nickie Quaid is one of three netminders on the shortlist while Diarmaid Byrnes, Seán Finn, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash and William O’Donoghue nominated as defenders.
Adam English and Cian Lynch are on the list at midfield with forwards Peter Casey, Gearóid Hegarty, Shane O’Brien, Aidan O’Connor and Cathal O’Neill all included.
The number of players on the shortlist is similar to other years where Limerick reigned supreme.
In 2018 and 2021 they had a whopping15 nominations, they had 14 in 2020 and ’23 and a dozen in 2022.
Beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway had 11 players announced in the list of nominees this morning while Cork had seven.
Elsewhere, Gearoid Hegarty has been nominated for the Hurler of the Year award alongside Diarmaid Byrnes.
The St Patrick's man is widely expected to win the award for the second time, having previously been named the country's top hurler in 2020.
Should Hegarty get the award, it will be the sixth time a Limerick player has been named Hurler of the Year since the award came in back in 1995. Cian Lynch (twice), Aaron Gillane and Byrnes himsel fhave all won the gong in recent years.
Brian Hayes was also shortlisted for the award.
The Young Hurler of the Year nominees were Jason Rabbitte, Cillian Trayers (both Galway) and William Buckley (Cork).
GOALKEEPERS: Nickie Quaid (Limerick); Éibhear Quilligan (Clare); Billy Nolan (Waterford).
DEFENDERS: Diarmaid Byrnes, Seán Finn, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash, William O’Donoghue (all Limerick); Daithí Burke, Ronan Glennon, Pádraic Mannion, Darren Morrissey, Cillian Trayers (all Galway); Mark Coleman, Rob Downey, Seán O’Donoghue, Niall O’Leary (all Cork); Niall O’Farrell. Diarmaid Ryan (both Clare); Paddy Smyth (Dublin); Ben Connelly (Offaly).
MIDFIELDERS: Adam English, Cian Lynch (both Limerick). Cathal Mannion (Galway); Tony Kelly (Clare); Brian Hayes (Dublin); Cian Kenny (Kilkenny).
FORWARDS: Peter Casey, Gearóid Hegarty, Shane O’Brien, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill (all Limerick); Tom Monaghan, Darragh Neary, Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte, Conor Whelan (all Galway); Shane Barrett, William Buckley, Brian Hayes (all Cork); Peter Duggan, Seán Rynne (both Clare); Donal Burke (Dublin); Eoghan Cahill (Offaly); Stephen Bennett (Waterford)