The season just gone served up one of the most entertaining year’s hurling action we have seen in quite a while and here’s our pick of the cream of the crop.
It was somewhat fitting that in a year full of thrills and spills that the final game of the season between Cork and Clare was not only one of the most enthralling, but also the highest scoring of the championship.
It has been 32 years since there hasn’t been a single representative from either Tipperary or Kilkenny in the official All-Stars, and here is the selection we have gone with, along with the help of our Game of Thrown-Ins contributor Shane Stapleton, who you can follow here @ShaneSaint. Listen to the lads debate the selections for the hurling and football teams of the year in the last Game of Throw-Ins podcast of the season here.
Anthony Nash (Cork)
He alone has brought an even higher level of drama to the game with his free taking, especially when he has the goals in his sights. While 4-9 ain’t half bad for a goalkeeper, or any player for that matter, his shot stopping has been nothing short of sublime. That double save against Kilkenny will live long in the memory.
Shane O’Neill (Cork)
Has been a most consistent performer for the Rebels over the past few years and got more chances to show his wares on the big stage. One misjudgement in the replay should not ignore the fact he had a decent game under intense pressure and had one hell of a season.
Richie McCarthy (Limerick)
It all ended poorly for the Treaty men after their euphoric Munster success, but the full-back couldn’t have done any more for the cause. Thundered into the championship with a tour de force against Tipperary and was majestic against Cork – helped in part by the red card to Pat Horgan, admittedly. He was swimming against the tide in the defeat to Clare.
David McInerney (Clare)
Amazing to think that he is just 20 with the displays he was churning out all season. When you consider just how little change Pat Horgan got from play in the two finals, then you can really appreciate his worth. Could be the first of many.
Brendan Bugler (Clare)
A talented musician, a passionate man on the pitch (unofficial GAA fist-pumper of the year 2013) and an integral part of this Clare team. A real leader, he has been through some painful defeats in recent years but has made up for that this year. Outstanding throughout.
Liam Rushe (Dublin)
The rock of Anthony Daly’s side, he was colossal during their victorious Leinster campaign, manning the defence and setting up waves of attacks. Fortunate not to see red in the semi-final, it would have tarnished another outstanding performance at Croke Park.
Conor Ryan (Clare)
He only made his debut against Galway, but what a four-game championship for the Cratloe man. Man of the match in the drawn encounter, he had his hands full with Seamus Harnedy, but did as well as anyone. A whirlwind season.
Pat Donnellan (Clare)
Played in a variety of roles, but both games against Cork were in the middle and he excelled alongside Colm Galvin. Simply known as “the sweeper” for his role in Davy’s system, his move further up the field allowed him demonstrate his full range of skills.
Colm Galvin (Clare)
Daniel Kearney was close, but Colm Galvin was a model of consistency and seemed to get better as the games wore on. An efficient distributor of the ball and a real workaholic, the traits Davy Fitzgerald looks for most in players.
Seamus Harnedy (Cork)
An exceptional year for the St. Ita’s clubman. Made his debut in the Waterford Crystal Cup in 2011, but after dropping off the panel, he made his championship debut against Clare in Munster with a man of the match performance. A brilliant ball winner who has shown a keen eye for the scores, he is in the running for Young Player of the year.
Tony Kelly (Clare)
Just an outstanding talent, a player RTE analyst Cyril Farrell would describe as a “wristy” hurler. Played in midfield against Limerick and was restored to the half-forward line for the two games against Cork, where he scored five points but was a thorn in the Rebel’s side.
Conal Keaney (Dublin)
Dublin’s Mr. Versatile, the Ballyboden man is a real handful on the 40 where he can disrupt even the best half-back lines. Highly influential in Leinster and in getting past Kilkenny, he had a storming game against Cork in the semi, though it wasn’t enough to see them over the line.
Podge Collins (Clare)
The term ‘workhorse’ is often bandied about and generally reserved for players that aren’t the most gifted, but Podge Collins has bucked the trend. The corner forward can pop up anywhere on the pitch and is always affecting play for the Banner. The Cratloe man had his quietest outing in the replay when Brian Murphy was assigned duties after causing havoc the first time out.
The fact he still scored 0-5 tells you everything you need to know.
Pat Horgan (Cork)
Cork’s scorer in chief and a real gifted craftsman. Nearly clinched the All-Ireland with a sublime late score and in the replay levelled matters at one juncture when he tapped a high ball down before drilling over. A deadly free-taker, he has been the Rebel’s go-to forward option all season.
Conor McGrath (Clare)
There were eight goals last weekend, but his effort was easily the pick of the bunch and a contender for goal of the season. His direct running had backs in trouble all season and Cork were no different. Instrumental in the Banner getting past Wexford and grabbed 1-2 against Galway.
Player of the Year: Tony Kelly (Clare)
A class act on the 40, he was just three when Clare last had Liam MacCarthy in their grasp and testament to his season was the fact Cork were keen to get Brian Murphy back into starting line-up for the drawn game to deal with the Ballyea man. He still took the talented man-marker for three points.
No stranger to drifting further back the field, a vital cog in Clare’s attacking game and possessing of a real touch of class on the ball, he is fully deserving of all the accolades and praise that comes his way.
Young Player of the Year: Podge Collins (Clare)
Technically if Tony Kelly is the Player of the Year, then he should also be the Young Player, but we are spreading the wealth among the young Banner brigade.
With two U-21 and one senior All-Ireland medals already to his name, 21 year-old Podge Collins has had a good hurling career already and this season he was perhaps the most influential figure in the championship. Outstanding throughout, he popped up here, there and everywhere and still made a telling contribution on the scoreboard. And his score in the drawn game was one of the best of the championship.
