7 days ago
The hurling All-Star winners, as things stand
It's that time of year again to consider who going into Sunday week's All-Ireland SHC final stands the best chance of picking up the individual All Star awards later in the year:
Patrick Collins (Cork)
A close-run thing here. Collins has been ever-present in the championship unlike his Tipperary counterpart and his puck-outs have been excellent. A save or two as well.
Next best: Rhys Shelly (Tipperary).
Robert Doyle (Tipperary)
The find of the season. Doyle has put the brakes on some of the game's most lethal forwards and had the presence of mind to keep out John Donnelly's shot.
Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
He had some difficulty on Sunday but Lawlor was supreme in the Leinster championship and is unlikely to be shifted when the final 15 is selected.
Seán O'Donoghue (Cork)
A sensational performance against Dublin, O'Donoghue has put behind a middling 2024 season with effective, efficient performances going back to the league.
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Eoghan Connolly (Tipperary)
Thirteen points from defence is quite the number. Has kiboshed and outscored forwards too. Connolly is a first cousin of his Sunday's match-winner Oisín O'Donoghue.
Ciarán Joyce (Cork)
Man of the match in the Munster final and the round win over Waterford. Joyce is becoming the half-back the keen observers in Cork always expected him to be.
Mark Coleman (Cork)
A second look at the Munster round meeting with Limerick is kinder on Coleman and he has been excellent since. His distribution and clean-up work is huge for Cork.
Next best: Niall O'Leary (Cork); John Bellew (Dublin); Mikey Carey (Kilkenny); Kyle Hayes, Dan Morrissey (both Limerick); Ronan Maher (Tipperary).
Cian Kenny (Kilkenny)
We had Kenny in our midfield this time last year only for him to be squeezed out and the James Stephens man could lose out once more but what a dynamic hurler.
Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
Last year's hurler of the year nominee is in the shake-up again. His partner Tim O'Mahony is progressing rapidly while Fitzgibbon has been in fine form from the off.
Next best: Tim O'Mahony (Cork); Jamie Barron (Waterford).
Tipperary's Jake Morris and Mikey Butler of Kilkenny. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie
Jake Morris (Tipperary)
A season in which he has embraced the leadership role in the Tipperary attack and 26 points across the championship is a handsome account for the Nenagh man.
Cathal Mannion (Galway)
The beacon in a bog of a season for Galway. Mannion is playing the hurling of his life after overcoming his ankle issues. Could only drag a faltering team so far this year.
Andrew Ormond (Tipperary)
A two-time man of the match winner, Ormond absorbed a lot of Kilkenny attention and shipped heavy hits but stood resolute. Next to Doyle, the most improved player.
Cian O'Sullivan (Dublin)
An outrageously good season for the St Brigid's man who scored 2-5 at the weekend to bring his SHC haul to 5-22. Should bridge the gap to Dublin's last All Stars in 2013.
Brian Hayes (Cork)
The leading hurler of the year contender, not just because of his scoring (5-8) but how he knits the attack together and is a focal point. Has everything going for him.
Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny)
His team-mate Billy Ryan would have a strong shout too but Keoghan's six points brought his SHC total to 6-14. The display underlined he isn't just a goal merchant.
Next best: Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan (both Cork); Billy Ryan (Kilkenny); Cian Lynch (Limerick); Jason Forde (Tipperary); Lee Chin (Wexford).
