“Watching nights like these, saying ‘I want to be up there some night” – Marty draws a good one out of Young Hurler of the Year Butler

Niall McIntyre

“I’m nearly proud here looking at him, you know what I mean, he’s so good.” – Huw Lawlor.

It was a proud night for Huw Lawlor, but it was a proud night for O’Loughlin Gaels too as two of their best men won their first All-Stars.

Huw Lawlor and Mikey Butler were the rock upon which many of Kilkenny’s opposition forwards perished this season, and in that sense, it should come as little surprise that the pair were honoured, side by side, on Friday night at the convention centre.

In the five-in-a-row-seeking Sean Finn, Butler faced some stiff competition for that right corner back slot but having held men like Tony Kelly, and having quietened others like Cathal Mannion, the selection committee deemed he had done enough to win it.

And it will have been all the more special for him that on his right hand side, was his right hand man.

There was less of a debate about the full back slot – Butler’s club-mate Lawlor had yet another outstanding season on the edge of the Kilkenny square and he told Joanne Cantwell of his pride in Butler’s progress.

“I’m nearly proud here looking at him, you know what I mean, he’s so good,” said Lawlor.

Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid, Kilkenny defenders Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor speak to Joanne Cantwell after receiving their All-Star awards. #rtegaa #allstars pic.twitter.com/wKx5bO1NNu

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) October 28, 2022

Butler, who works as a farm manager in Kilkenny, also won the Young Hurler of the Year award and he gave a brilliant interview to Marty Morrissey as he collected his second trophy of the night.

“Without my club, I wouldn’t be here at all, and without my team-mates, they put in just as much effort as me,” said the 22-year-old.

“I couldn’t envisage this at all.

“Martin Comerford rang me to go in for trials at the start of the year. Like any young lad in Kilkenny, I jumped at it, and thankfully I came out the right side.

“Brian rang me to come into the panel then and of course I would sure, you couldn’t say no. I have dreamed about this. Watching nights like these, saying I want to be up there some night. Thankfully (I’m here now).”

Marty then joked with Butler, who’s 5 ft 7, that it was nice for a change to interview someone that wasn’t 6 ft 6. Butler had his measure.

“Ah sure I’d say I have an inch or two on you,” he said.