Club hurling, you can’t beat it.
And the best thing is, the business end is only around the corner to warm us into another GAA year.
Without further ado, here’s the best of the best of the best.
1. Goalkeeper – Anthony Nash (Kanturk, Cork)
Saving penalties at one end, scoring them at the other. Doing what Anthony Nash does on Kanturk’s route to a county, Munster and potentially an All-Ireland Intermediate title.
Capiche from Cork Legend Anthony Nash 👌👌 pic.twitter.com/CN5DsfmxK4
— Buff Egan (@buff_egan) November 5, 2017
St. Pat’s Ballyragget appear to be their main rivals.
2. Right corner back – Michael Casey (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick)
One of the most exciting talents from the exciting next generation of Limerick hurlers. A plucky defender, Casey was in dominant form in the Na Piarsaigh full-back line throughout the Treaty county Championship.
He’s stocky, quick off the mark and is an exceptionally tight marker. Well able to clear his lines if needs be, too.
Played a crucial role in shutting out that dangerous Ballygunner attack, will have a crucial role to play in ensuring the Limerick club retain the Tommy Moore Cup.
3. Full Back – Sean Morrissey (Liam Mellows, Galway)
This man has presence. As in, come anywhere near his full back line and you’re now entering his territory.
Then, he’ll suffocate you, then he’ll annoy you so much that you won’t even want to come back.
Possesses a wide pair of shoulders and a bustling but lean frame.
Well able to hurl, too, but he won’t let you hurl.
Was so, so important in Liam Mellows’ first county title win since 1958 this year. Keep up this form in the All-Ireland stages and Micheal Donoghue’s door will have been beaten down.
4. Left corner back Meehaul McGrath (Slaughtneil, Derry)
Tall, strong and athletic. McGrath is physical, tight and in your face. Well able to shadow his man, well able to tackle him.
No forward will have it easy.
5. Right half back – Paudie Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary)
Despite Thurles Sarsfields winning their fourth county title in a row in Tipperary, there remains a sense of unfulfilled potential surrounding this team. Unbelievable strength in depth on paper, the fact that they’ve only won one Munster Championship, coming in 2012, is a huge disappointment.
One constant, however, is their behemoth half back, Paudie Maher. The size of an animal, every ounce of his being is worth its weight in gold and he throws it around like a prized bull rounding the cattle ring in the mart.
The Masterful Maher's! Thurles Sarsfields players, Ronan Maher, Denis Maher & captain Padraic Maher, with the Dan Breen Cup! pic.twitter.com/KnvbwwS6WS
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) October 8, 2017
Thurles went out against Ballygunner in Munster this year, but Maher put in one of the most dominant, complete displays of hurling, and those present at Walsh Park don’t realise how lucky they were to witness it.
That was only typical of the man.
6. Centre half back – Sean Moran (Cuala, Dublin)
A rock at the heart of the Cuala defence. Moran is a virtuoso of power, speed and aggression. Holds the centre well and really sets the platform for the rest of this great team to build.
He’s aerially dominant and has the pace, agility and defensive instincts to keep any man quiet.
Victorious! Seán Moran of Cuala celebrates the win over St Martin's GAA Club in the @AIB_GAA Leinster Hurling Senior Club Championship Semi-Final #TheToughest #GAA pic.twitter.com/gZ31a9hnXq
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) November 19, 2017
That’s what he’s done all year so far.
7. Left half back – Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge, Clare)
Came of age for Sixmilebridge in their Clare county title-winning campaign.
Any forward going into mark him knows they’re letting themselves in for a nightmare.
Because Morey will stick to them, he’ll be inside their shorts, apart from when the ball is up for grabs. Then he’s hounding, he’s gathering, he’s exploding, he’s gone down the field.
https://twitter.com/HurlingHotspot/status/921829338957443072
Just like that.
8. Midfield – Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge, Clare)
Extremely physically imposing in the engine room, Shanahan is well able to throw that weight around, too. He’s as wristy as they come, and as he showed in their Munster semi-final loss to Ballygunner, he’s a beautiful ball striker.
Pinged them from all angles that day. Will be a key man for the Banner going forward.
9. Midfield – Thomas Geraghty (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
A real space hound in midfield, Geraghty is free to go and explore. He thrives on that role, prowling, waiting for his moment, and when it comes, he’s gone.
Has a dynamite first touch, and then he heads straight for the jugular and he’s gone.
One of the best hurlers in Offaly right now. They’ll need a few more like him.
10. Left half forward – Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick)
Man-of-the-match in the Limerick county final. Man-of-the-match in the Munster final.
What more can you say apart from this man has to be starting for Limerick next year.
Congratulations to Na Piarsaigh Adrian Breen who won Credit Union Senior Hurling Man of Match Award in Credit Union SHC Final v Kilmallock pic.twitter.com/fOcanWxVmA
— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) October 15, 2017
11. Centre half forward – Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin, Clare)
The big half forward forward didn’t start for Clare in last year’s Championship. He’ll be one of the first names on the team-sheet this year.
The abrasive half forward fired his club all the way to their first Clare senior final in more than 70 years.
He racked up some serious totals along the way.
- 2-13 against Feakle in a group stage game.
- 0-12 against Clonlara in the semi-final.
- 0-10 in the drawn final against Sixmilebridge.
- 0-10 in the replay.
Clooney-Quin were unlucky to lose out in that replay, but Duggan, who raised white flags from play, 65s and even sidelines couldn’t be faulted.
Peter Duggan is the man to save Clare hurling https://t.co/hJWfTib0ix via @sportsjoedotie
— Clooney Quin GAA (@ClooneyQuinGAA) November 21, 2017
12. Right half forward – Colm Cronin (Cuala, Dublin)
Mightn’t be the most aesthetically pleasing of hurlers, but Cronin always gets the jobs done. Always lurking, always exploring, he pops up with the ball when you never even think he’s knocking about and once he has it, he’s gone and its over the bar.
Key to the Cuala juggernaut.
13. Left corner forward – Conor Power (Ballygunner, Waterford)
Did everything he possibly could in the red and black this year. Did so much that he simply can’t be ignored anymore for a call up to the Waterford seniors.
Give him an inch, and you’re too late already, because Power will tear into the space. He’ll always attack, he’ll always build up a frightening head of steam.
Conor Power of Ballygunner celebrates after scoring his side's second goal of the game! pic.twitter.com/ev7MZyANEF
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) October 22, 2017
And then, bang, back of the net. He’s as clinical as they come.
14. Full forward – Con O’Callaghan (Cuala, Dublin)
There are no superlatives that could possibly do this man justice.
But his roll of honour can.
Con O'Callaghan's 2017 👑
All-Ireland club SHC 🏆
U21 Leinster football 🏆
U21 All-Ireland football 🏆
Leinster SFC 🏆
All-Ireland SFC 🏆
All-Star ⭐
Young Footballer of the Year 🏅
Dublin club SHC 🏆
Leinster club SHC 🏆That's a wrap 👏 pic.twitter.com/Hj777yDnuk
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 3, 2017
15. Right corner forward – Dan Shanahan (Lismore, Waterford)
Dan the man scored 8 goals on Lismore’s route to the Waterford senior semi-finals this year.
Along the way he showed that experience and class is an able replacement for youth and speed.
Dan Shanahan scoring tally in Waterford senior club hurling should inspire older players – SportsJOE.ie https://t.co/UTcF92SuXW
— Waterford Page (@waterfordpage) October 7, 2017
Crucially, he still has the power. The power of two men.
