Delaney's team-mates, defender Tommy Walsh and goal scorer Michael Fennelly, were also shortlisted for the award by the Sunday Game panellists.

Delaney received a crystal trophy and two tickets to Abu Dhabi from GAA Senior Hurling Championship sponsors Ethiad Airways.

The 29-year-old Fenians clubman was quick to point to Kilkenny's overall team performance, when receiving his award.

"I am just accepting this award on behalf of the panel of 32 (players) today," he said.

"Over the last three or four weeks we put our heads down and we said that we have a fierce battle on our hands with Tipperary in the final.

"Luckily enough the lads put us to the pin of our collar as well in training and we can only say thanks very much for that."

This night 12 months ago Kilkenny were suffering heartbreak, but the hunger to get back to an All-Ireland decider helped to drive them on in this afternoon's 2-17 to 1-16 win.

"When you start in January and February and the hard months of training, you want to be hurling on the first Sunday of September if you can at all.

"We had the hurt after last year and we used it. It wasn't only the last couple of weeks we used it, we used it all year. It stood to us in the end thank God."

Delaney added a seventh medal to his All-Ireland SHC haul this afternoon, firm proof that the hunger has not lessened for thiis talent-laden Cats side.

"It wasn't hard this year at all to be honest," he added.

"When something is taken away from you, you want it back. The lads were on a mission this year and luckily enough we took it (the Liam MacCarthy Cup) back."