All-Ireland champions Kilkenny have eight representatives on the Players’ Team of the Year, which was announced this morning by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA). Four teams in total are represented among the XV, with beaten finalists Tipperary contributing five and Galway and Waterford providing one each.
Galway’s representative is full-back Ollie Canning, whose brother Joe is also usually a shoo-in for such accolades but gets overlooked at full-forward in favour of Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin - a man who is never ignored.
It is the latter's team-mate Tommy Walsh, however, who is shortlisted with Waterford’s John Mullane and Tipp’s Lar Corbett for the Players’ Player of the Year.
“Being recognised by your fellow players is a wonderful honour for any hurler and I would like to congratulate the 15 chosen on this year’s Opel GPA Hurling Team,” said chairman of the hurling selection committee Donal O’Grady today.
“As a committee we selected our three most deserving nominees for each position along with six midfielders, and the players then made the ultimate choice.”
GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell added: “Congratulations to the 2009 Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year. Given Kilkenny’s historic achievement this year it’s no surprise that they have been acknowledged by their fellow players and thus dominate the Opel GPA selection.
“However, Tipperary’s significant contribution to the campaign is also reflected in the line-up. I would like to thank all the players who voted and our selection committee for their work throughout the season.”
2009 Opel Gaelic Hurling Team of the Year
PJ Ryan (Tipperary); Ollie Canning (Galway), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny); Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary), Padraic Maher (Tipperary); Shane McGrath (Tipperary), Michael Rice (Kilkenny); Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Seamus Callanan (Tipperary), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny); John Mullane (Waterford), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Lar Corbett (Tipperary)
Nominees for Opel GPA Hurling Player of the Year
Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
Lar Corbett (Tipperary)
John Mullane (Waterford)