Kilkenny and Tipperary dominate Sunday Game hurling team of the year
By By Peter O’Dwyer
With Michael Duignan espousing the view that the game has never been in a better state and Donal Óg Cusack suggesting the quality has almost doubled in the two years since he’s left the scene, this year’s All-Ireland championship was another year to saviour.
With the standard so high, making the Sunday Game team of the year is no mean feat. Here, along with accompanying rationale for their selection, are the fifteen men selected.
Darren Gleeson, Tipperary – Was really top class in both finals
Paul Murphy, Kilkenny – after improving a lot this year; part of an heroic defense yesterday
JJ Delaney, Kilkenny – one of the greatest defenders ever; one of the mainstays of the Kilkenny defense
Seamus Hickey, Limerick – outstanding all year; a unanimous choice
Brendan Maher, Tipperary – brilliant inspirational captain; his best hurling is at wing-back
Padraig Maher, Tipperary – performances against Dublin and Cork were exceptional
Cillian Buckley, Kilkenny – outstanding all year; always looking to set up attacks
Richie Hogan, Kilkenny - outstanding in every game since the start of the league; an automatic choice
Conor Fogarty, Kilkenny – not all about flashy hurling, his work rate is phenomenal
TJ Reid, Kilkenny – has now cemented his place; free-taking and goalscoring are brilliant
Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher, Tipperary – the go-to man and lynchpin for Tipperary
John O’Dwyer, Tipperary – terrific year, really stepped up as a leader
Colin Fennelly, Kilkenny –put up some terrific displays all throughout the league and championship
Seamus Callinan, Tipperary – going from strength to strength and a leader for the future
Shane Dowling, Limerick – he played very well and got some fantastic scores; a natural scorer
Unsurprisingly, this year’s finalists dominate the selected fifteen with the champions edging their opponents out with one extra member while beaten semi-finalists Limerick are the only other county represented with Seamus Hickey and Shane Dowling making the cut.
As well as landing the league, Leinster and All-Ireland titles, Kilkenny can also boast the player of the year – in the eyes of the Sunday Game panel at least with Richie Hogan the unanimous choice. Such was the quality of his performances only TJ Reid and Seamus Callinan received a mention in the debate but neither landed a vote.
The panel also picked their personal favourite moments of the year with Cusack opting for the thrilling Waterford and Wexford clash in Nowlan Park, Cyril Farrell opting for a moment of genius and Liam Sheedy and Ger Loughnane choosing the drawn All-Ireland final.
