What a year of hurling it’s been.
Limerick lifted Liam when to close out what has surely been one of the most enjoyable years in hurling history. Here’s our best 15 from a memorable championship season.
1 Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
Nicky Quaid pushed him hard, but how could you go against the man who created more than nine lives for the Kilkenny Cats?
2 Sean Finn (Limerick)
Goes about his business quietly, but always takes care of his business. Exactly what you want from a corner back.
3 Daithí Burke (Galway)
For the first time in a long, long time, Sunday’s All-Ireland final saw Daithí Burke actually struggle in a game. For holding his square hostage all year long up to Sunday, this man deserves his All-Star.
4 Jack Browne (Clare)
So skilful and composed in possession, so tigerish and tight without it. Was class for Clare all year long performing expert marking jobs on some of the game’s best corner forwards.
5 Padraig Mannion (Galway)
Probably the second best hurler in Ireland this year. While those around him struggled for in the final, he was still galloping out with ball.
6 Declan Hannon (Limerick)
The focal point of much of Limerick’s play. Sits deep and sprays inviting ball on plates for their attackers, he never allows his man stray too far either and he laid down a marker in the final when not giving Joe Canning any change in the first half.
7 Diarmuid Byrnes (Limerick)
One of the best ball-strikers in the game. The Patrickswell man, like Hannon beside him is a pinpoint distributor of the ball and he’s also adept in the air. Powerful as they come too, any ball won off him is hard-earned.
8 Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
The Young Hurler of the Year in waiting. Fitzgibbon scored points for fun all year long.
9 Cian Lynch (Limerick)
There’s no better man to give a pass, there’s no man with a better first touch in Ireland. Hurled a storm in the first half of the final, was just continuing on from the brilliant year he’s had.
10 Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
Big players come up with big plays and in both the quarter final and the final, the Ahane man changed the game for Limerick. His late, great point against Kilkenny in Thurles won’t be forgotten in a hurry, nor will his goal steepened Galway’s mountain in the decider.
Seamus Harnedy was unlucky to miss out here, but you couldn’t leave Morrissey out.
11 Joe Canning (Galway)
Was even better this year than last year. Dragged Galway back into the final almost single-handedly with his spirited second half showing.
Stood tall all year.
12 Peter Duggan (Clare)
Enough said.
Peter Duggan with a lovely skilful point. pic.twitter.com/gOME4yoYJU
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 28, 2018
13 Graeme Mulcahy (Limerick)
His consistency never dropped from the minute he terrorised the Tipperary back-line in their Munster opener to his match-winning point in the All-Ireland final.
14 John Conlon (Clare)
Had his best year yet in a Clare jersey this year. Without a doubt the best full forward in the country.
15 Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
A brilliant man to win his own ball, he knows what to do with it when he gets it and he popped up with vital scores for Limerick all year long.
Never really got going in the final, but Limerick wouldn’t have been there but for his contribution in the semi and in earlier rounds.
