This XV would take some beating.
We’ll know who’ll get the gongs for real a little later this week but every GAA fan worth their salt likes to add their two cents to the All-Star debate before the team is picked and here at JOE we’re no different.
We’ve decided to tackle the small ball first and when you take into account that 24 of the 45 nominees are from All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary, it should come as little surprise that our selection is dominated by men who represented the Cats and the Premier with distinction this season.
While the GAA lads in JOE Towers did engage in hearty debate over all lines of the pitch, in reality, there was general agreement over the vast majority of positions, with goalkeeper, midfield and the full-forward line the only real bones of contention. As a result, instead of cups flying and insults being traded in the selection meeting, the atmosphere was a little something like this…
In the end, our selection includes eight players from All-Ireland winners Kilkenny, six from runners-up Tipperary and a solitary representative from Limerick but while we like the look of the final XV, we’re sure there are a few of you who will disagree, so feel free to add your voice to the debate in the comment box below.
JOE’s 2014 hurling All-Stars:
Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
Seamus Hickey (Limerick)
Brendan Maher (Tipperary)
Padraic Maher (Tipperary)
Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Shane McGrath (Tipperary)
John O’Dwyer (Tipperary)
Bonnar Maher (Tipperary)
TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Colin Fennelly (Kilkenny)
Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
Richie Power (Kilkenny)
JOE’s Hurler of the Year: Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
