THE BORD GÁIS Energy team of the year will be announced live on Newstalk FM’s Off the Ball over four days from Wednesday 30 September, and those named in the final XV will be presented with their awards at a special ceremony in Dublin on Saturday 3 October.
“The Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year is a fitting way to bring the U-21 season to a close,” said Ger Cunningham, of Bord Gáis Energy and Dublin hurling boss.
“These young players deserve to have their individual exploits recognised and, given the competitive nature of the championship, even making the shortlist is a big achievement.
“We’ve extended the list of nominees to 45 this season such was the competition. While it’s no surprise that the All-Ireland finalists take a major percentage of the places, it’s great to see the impact that some teams who didn’t quite make it to Semple Stadium for the finals being recognised.”
Champions Limerick have 12 players in the running to be named on the final team, while Wexford have nine players nominated and there is just one fewer from Clare. Waterford have six nominees, Tipperary have three and Galway have two while Kilkenny, Carlow, Dublin, Laois and Antrim have one apiece.
The full judging panel for the awards includes Bord Gáis Energy Sports Ambassador Ger Cunningham, TG4’s Micheál Ó Domhnaill, Galway star Joe Canning, Waterford great Ken McGrath and Newstalk’s Óisín Langan.
Full Shortlist for Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year:
Goalkeepers: Keith Hogan (Clare), David McCarthy (Limerick), Oliver O’Leary (Wexford)
Full Backs: Michael Breen (Tipperary), Michael Casey (Limerick), Eoin Conroy (Wexford), Richie English (Limerick), David Fitzgerald (Clare), Conor Gleeson (Waterford), Shane McNulty (Waterford), Eoin Quirke (Clare), Liam Ryan (Wexford)
Half Backs: Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick), Tadhg de Burca (Waterford), Conor Cleary (Clare), Diarmuid Cody (Kilkenny), Padraig Foley (Wexford), Ronan Maher (Tipperary), Aidan McQuane (Clare), Barry O’Connell (Limerick), Jack O’Connor (Wexford)
Midfield: Diarmuid Byrne (Carlow), David Conroy (Clare), Conor Devitt (Wexford), Austin Gleeson (Waterford), Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick), Pat Ryan (Limerick)
Half Forwards: Shane Bennett (Waterford), Cian Boland (Dublin), David Dempsey (Limerick), Bobby Duggan (Clare), Cha Dwyer (Laois), Kevin Foley (Wexford), Ian Galvin (Clare), Cian Lynch (Limerick), Ronan Lynch (Limerick)
Full Forwards: Patrick Curran (Waterford), Cathal Dunbar (Wexford), Jason Flynn (Galway), Conor McDonald (Wexford), Christy McNaughton (Antrim), Tom Morrissey (Limerick), Brian Molloy (Galway), Barry Nash (Limerick), Colin O’Riordan (Tipperary)
How on earth was Gearoid Hegarty overlooked for a nomination? He was one of Limerick’s best players this year ffs!
Agreed Hegarty was a colossus
Diarmuid Cody really?????
HOW on earth did he get a nomination?
He was dropped for the Carlow game and they got hammered by Wexford.
And taken off at half time against Dublin
Not a Cork man in sight. Further proof as if any were needed of how low the standard has fallen in Rebel land. Frank take another bow!
Very true but Limerick will get 11-12 players on the team with McDonald the only cert outside of them of a place.
Foley for Wexford is a cert too, Liam ryan also deserves a spot. De burca of Waterford too.
Bobby Duggan will definitely be on that team as well.
Duggan was roasted in the Munster final. Can’t see him getting selected. He was brilliant against Waterford though.
It mad to say but you can be sure a few the Kilkenny players who didn’t get nominated will end up with a pocket of All Ireland senior medals anyway…
Ha is Galway’s Paul Killeen not nominated? Gave probably the best full-back display of the summer in the semi against Limerick.
What nonsense
Galway come closer than any team all year and get a couple of token nominations. Open draw please
Why isn’t Cathal Mannion named?? Surely he should walk onto that team given he’s 1 of the front runners for young hurler of the year!!!
To be fair Mannion had a quiet game in the semi final and the nominations are taken purely from the U-21 games and not the senior ones.