Eoin Murphy says he was humbled and flattered to be chosen as this year's All Star hurling goalkeeper in the face of such stiff competition.

The Kilkenny netminder saw off competition from the likes of Anthony Nash and Nickie Quaid to win the accolade last weekend.

"It's a nice buzz at the end of the year. For the parents more so than anything else, they were immensely proud as well," the Glenmore clubman told RTE ahead of Kilkenny's Wild Geese trophy game against Galway in Sydney tomorrow.

"In a couple of years when I think about retiring I might look back on it. But hopefully I can win a few more of those and a few more All-Ireland medals before I reflect on it too much." 

He added: "Anthony Nash has been at the top of his game in the last couple of years in terms of short puck-outs, long-range frees and how you distribute the ball. He's after bringing that to another level. Nickie Quaid has been ultra-consistent as well and probably didn't get enough plaudits until this year.

"If you look at any county in the top level in hurling, they all have top-class keepers. You look at the likes of Alan Nolan and Gary Maguire in Dublin, Mark Fanning in Wexford, and Galway have three top-class keepers in Fergal Flannery, Colm Callanan, and James Skehill. 

"It's ultra-competitive, so even to be nominated is an achievement in itself. Obviously then to be picked by the selectors is a proud moment. Hopefully I can put myself in a position to be nominated in the next couple of years where I know I'm performing at the top level."

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