If the hurling All Stars were picked now...
May 09, 2014
If the hurling All Stars were awarded now...
1. Colm Callanan (Galway)
The Galway netminder enjoyed a league to remember on a personal level. He could do little about John Power's goal in the semi-final defeat to Kilkenny and Tribesmen supporters will be hoping in can carry his good form into their Leinster SHC campaign.
2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
The two-time All-Star was one of the Cats' star men in their 1-16 to 0-15 penultimate stage win over Galway. He also proved to be the rock on which many a Tipperary attack perished in the drama-packed final at Semple Stadium.
3. Padraic Maher (Tipperary)
Tipperary's renaissance during the course of the league can be partly explained by the re-positioning of Maher to the number three jersey. He had genuine cause for complaint after referee James Owens awarded a penalty against him in the final defeat and was superb otherwise.
4. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
Henry Shefflin's powers may be on the wane as he enters the twilight of his glittering career but any day he is held scoreless has to be a good day for his marker. Barrett held the upperhand over Shefflin in the league decider and the Cats legend was called ashore early in extra-time.
5. Brendan Maher (Tipperary)
Maher has settled in well at centre-back for Eamon O'Shea's side and he was a leading contender for the 'man-of-the-match' accolade from the league decider. The future looks bright for the Premier County all of a sudden and the Borris-Ileigh clubman has played a captain's role so far.
6. Conor Ryan (Clare)
Clare appear to have suffered no hangover from their All-Ireland celebrations and surpassed Davy Fitzgerald's expectations by going all the way to the league semi-final. Cratloe clubman Ryan has continued where he left off in 2013 and the Banner won't relinquish their Liam McCarthy crown without a fight.
7. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
Denis Maher won't recall marking Buckley with any great fondness as the Tipp forward was taken off in the 54th minute of the epic league final. The Dicksboro clubman produced an excellent display in the Cats' half-back line.
8. Padraig Brehony (Galway)
A star of the 2011 All-Ireland minor hurling side, Brehony has made a seamless transition to senior level and was one of the driving forces behind the Tribesmen's march to a last four league clash against Kilkenny. Can he reproduce the goods in the Leinster SHC?
9. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Hogan switched from midfield to the half-forward line for the league final against Tipp and walked away with TG4's 'man-of-the-match' award. The Danesfort player sent over six points against the Premier County and had a big hand in TJ Reid's match-winning score.
10. Paul Shiels (Antrim)
Shiels Antrim's rescue when posting nine points, including four from play, in the HL 1B relegation play-off victory over Offaly. In their two Leinster SHC games so far, he has helped himself to 0-12 and 0-11 against Westmeath and Carlow respectively.
11. Colin Ryan (Clare)
The Clare centre-forward lay down an early marker when hitting 1-9 in the defeat of Kilkenny on the opening day of the league in Ennis and he continued in that rich vein form for the duration of the league. He finished the campaign with 1-43 to his name.
12. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
2-11 in a national final is some going and it was Kilkenny's left half-forward who cleverly worked a one-two with Richie Hogan before firing over the decisive score. Reid has taken over the free-taking duties from Henry Shefflin and he has proven he has the temperament to deal with that massive responsibility.
13. Pauric Mahony (Waterford)
New Waterford manager Derek McGrath has a big job on his hands trying to get relegation out of his side's system before their Munster SHC campaign gets underway. He will look to Mahony - who hit 1-53 during the course of the league - to lead by example.
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
Callanan wrecked havoc in opposition defences throughout the league. His ten points against Kilkenny brought his individual tally for the league to a whopping 5-62 and finished as overall top scorer was some consolation for losing the decider.
15. Pat Horgan (Cork)
Although there was bitter disappointment for Cork following their quarter-final exit at the hands of arch rivals Tipperary, the Rebel County can console themselves achieved their primary aim of securing promotion to Division 1A and Horgan was, as per usual, their main scorer-in-chief with 3-51. Tweet
