Kilkenny, understandably, dominate the 2014 hurling All Star nominations. It became a case of who to exclude. For the third year in a row the All-Ireland final went to a replay and for the third successive time the man of the match in that game was a player that barely featured throughout the season.
This time, however, Kilkenny’s powerful centre back Kieran Joyce does not make the 45-man list – in contrast to hat-trick hero Shane O’Donnell last year. Walter Walsh also failed to make it in 2012.
Joyce and John Power are the only Kilkenny's starters in last month's victory over Tipperary to be overlooked. Despite both men staring in Tipp's demise, a lack of exposure was the obvious reasoning.
Otherwise they dominate the lines, as they probably will the final 15 at the awards ceremony on October 24th. The team will be announced live on RTÉ that night.
Tipperary are next with 11 players, Munster champions Cork have six, one shy of Limerick and Wexford’s removal of defending All-Ireland champions Clare from the championship sees them rewarded with three. Dublin, despite a backward wheeling campaign, get two, which is one more than Clare, Offaly and Galway.
Hurler of the year may have been decided in the final. It remains between Kilkenny pair Richie Hogan and TJ Reid with Seamus Callanan's stellar scoring year making him a certainty at one juncture in the summer.
Not anymore. Callanan did show well in the drawn game but it could yet be JJ Delaney's thrilling hook that denies him the individual accolade and arguably Tipperary the Liam McCarthy Cup. It certainly denied Callanan a goal.
Hogan had a superb year, forcing his way into every match, particularly the second half of the draw.
Young hurler of the year is between Tipperary man-marker Cathal Barrett, Wexford sharp-shooter Conor McDonald and Limerick's unerring free-taker Shane Dowling.
Barrett’s man-marking job on Shefflin in the league all the way to his heroics of September make him an outstanding candidate but McDonald and Dowling would be worthy winners as well.
None of the goalkeepers – Darren Gleeson (Tipperary), Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny), Alan Nolan (Dublin) – have been previously recognised.
In the full back line JJ Delaney and Jackie Tyrrell already have 10 All Stars between them and both veterans halted time in 2014 with some magnificent contributions. That said, Limerick’s Seamus Hickey, Paul Murphy of Kilkenny and Tipperary’s Paddy Stapleton produced performances of the highest quality in the latter stages of championship. Bloodshed may come easier than consensus.
The same problem presents itself with the half-back line. This year really was one of some great defending. Narrowing Kieran Bergin (Tipperary), Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny), Mark Ellis (Cork), Brendan Maher (Tipperary), Padraig Maher (Tipperary), Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny), Liam Rushe (Dublin), Lorcan McLoughlin (Cork) and Wayne McNamara (Limerick) down to three men is almost impossible.
Only two of last year’s All-Star backs, Liam Rushe and Richie McCarthy, have been renominated. Neither midfielder, Clare’s Colm Galvin and Conor Ryan, made it.
Hogan will be one of the centrefielders with Conor Fogarty possibly joining his county team-mate although Lee Chin and Shane McGrath reached similar heights, as did Limerick duo Paul Browne and James Ryan. It’s not easy.
Half forward promises to reopen the debate about the relevance of early summer form as Cork’s Conor Lehane and Galway’s Conor Cooney are genuine contenders. Patrick Bonner Maher and TJ Reid are certainties, leaving only one spot between seven.
Noel McGrath or John Bubbles O’Dwyer seem like the only debate, but Michael Fennelly, Declan Hannon and Eoin Larkin cannot be ignored.
