LIMERICK dominate the 2023 Hurling Team of the Year with seven All-Stars, while Kilkenny (5), Clare (2) and Galway make of the rest of the list.
Limerick completed a much sought after four-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles with a sensational second half performance against Kilkenny.
The Treaty County also dominate the Hurler of the Year nominations as Kyle Hayes, Aaron Gillane and Diarmaid Byrnes are all shortlisted, but the winner won’t be announced until tomorrow night.
It’s no surprise that the trio have picked up All-Stars, with last years Hurler of the Year Byrnes along with Hayes claiming an award for the fourth year on the trot while Gillane also adds a fourth to his collection.
It’s an all-Limerick midfield with Darragh O’Donovan and William O’Donoughe at centerfield while Conor Whelan, the top goal scorer in the All-Ireland series, is Galway’s sole representative.
Kilkenny shot-stopper Eoin Murphy earns his fourth award as Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor pick up their second All-Stars having made the Team of the Year in 2022 as well.
TJ Reid led the way for Kilkenny and gets a seventh All-Star while Kilkenny captain Eoin Cody will collect his first. Shane O’Donnell of Clare put in a solid shift for Brian Lohan’s men throughout the campaign and gains a second All-Star award for his efforts.
Clare veteran John Conlon is named at centre back and enters a distinguished club of players who have been honoured as forwards and defenders in their career having earned an All-Star in 2018 at full forward.
2023 PWC GAA-GPA HURLING ALLSTARS
Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
One of the highlights of 2023 was the extraordinary save Eoin Murphy pulled off against Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final. With the Banner County chasing an equalising goal, the chance fell to Peter Duggan, but his goal-bound shot was tipped onto the bar by Murphy. The Glenmore clubman also kept a clean sheet in the All-Ireland final defeat to Limerick.
Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)
For the second year in a row, Butler claims one of the corner back spots. Last season’s Young Hurler of the Year, Butler enjoyed another excellent campaign for Kilkenny as they qualified for the All-Ireland final. Noted for his man-marking ability, Butler went toe-to-toe with some of the best in business and kept Tony Kelly to just 0-1 in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
Like his club and county teammate Butler, the Kilkenny full back earned his first All-Star award last season and carried that terrific form into 2023. An old-fashioned, teak-tough defender, there’s very few forwards that get the better of Lawlor and the O’Loughlin Gaels hurler can also take a score when required as demonstrated against Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
Morrissey, along with his brother Tom, were instrumental in helped the Treaty County claim a historic four-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles and is included in the Team of the Year for the third time, adding to his All-Star awards from 2018 and 2020. Limerick also retained their Munster Championship crown and Morrissey was one of their most consistent performers throughout 2023.
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
Limerick’s top scorer in the 2023 All-Ireland final, Byrnes couldn’t miss as John Kiely’s men climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand for the fourth season on the trot. The 2022 Player of the Year, who has once again been shortlisted for the gong, has been one of the best hurlers in the country since breaking onto the scene in 2016.
John Conlon (Clare)
When Conlon last picked up an All-Star award at the end of the 2018 season, he claimed the full forward position, but the 34-year-old is now the lynchpin of the Clare defence. Conlon was terrific in the Munster final as the Banner County came agonisingly close to overcoming their Limerick rivals and enjoyed a superb campaign under Brian Lohan.
Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
For the fourth year running, Hayes claims a spot in the Team of the Year. Last season, the versatile Limerick star was named at centre half forward but like 2020 and 2021, this year he holds the left half-back position. Like his fellow defender Byrnes, Hayes has also been nominated for Hurler of the Year, highlighting his impact on the Limerick team.
Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
O'Donovan has been a key member of the Limerick hurling team since entering the fold in 2016 and picks up his second All-Star award to add to the one earned in 2021. O’Donovan is one of the main men in the powerful engine room for Limerick and usually covers every blade of grass as well as popping up with important scores.
Will O’Donoghue (Limerick)
Despite suffering an injury in the early minutes of the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, O’Donoghue lasted the entire 70 plus minutes of action and helped Limerick claim the Liam McCarthy Cup again. He was the rock of the defence for the Treaty County right throughout the year as they maintained their impressive dominance in Munster and on the national stage.
Shane O’Donnell (Clare)
O’Donnell burst onto the scene in 2013, scoring a hat-trick in the replayed All-Ireland final victory over Cork, and in recent years has become one of the best hurlers around. The Clare attacker was on song this year as they were inches away from a Munster title and is named on the Team of the Year for the second season in a row.
TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
For the second season in succession, TJ Reid finished the All-Ireland campaign as top scorer on his way to picking up a seventh All-Star. The 2015 Hurler of the Year hit an incredible 2-65 as Kilkenny reached the All-Ireland final. His accuracy in front of the posts was crucial throughout the year and offered the Cats a fighting chance in the showpiece.
Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
Morrissey has been an ever-present member of the Limerick team that have dominated the All-Ireland series in recent years and picks up his third All-Star award in four years. The hard-working Morrissey got his name on the scoresheet in both the All-Ireland semi-final and final as Limerick saw off the challenges of Galway and Kilkenny to capture the Liam McCarthy.
Conor Whelan (Galway)
Whelan was the highest goal scorer in the entire championship and chipped in with some crucial scores for the Tribesmen. He finished the campaign with 7-18 and helped himself to 1-6 in the Leinster final against Kilkenny as the Cats mounted a late comeback, although Whelan was named as Man of the Match that day despite finishing on the losing side.
Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
Gillane led the way in terms of the scoring charts for John Kiely’s Treaty men. The Limerick sharpshooter finished the championship campaign with an eye-catching personal tally of 3-47 including am individual haul of 0-4 in the All-Ireland final win over Kilkenny. Gillane earns his fourth All-Star award and has also been nominated for Hurler of the Year.
Eoin Cody (Kilkenny)
Cody picks up his first ever All-Star award in a year when he captained Kilkenny to the final game of the season, although they lost the All-Ireland final to Limerick. Cody led his teammates by example and nailed 0-3 as they won the Leinster Championship. Cody finished the season with 5-21, including a major in the All-Ireland decider.
