WE KNOW THAT you might not all agree with our selection but here’s who we think will be honoured with 2015 GAA/GPA Allstar hurling awards.
The official selection will be revealed tomorrow morning, with the football XV to be announced on Friday evening’s live TV broadcast.
Goalkeeper
1. Colm Callanan (Galway)
Breakdown:
A stellar season for the Galway netminder and he will be a worthy recipient of a first Allstar award. In a position that’s historically been troublesome for the Tribesmen, Callanan enjoyed brilliant displays against Dublin in the Leinster championship replay and in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Tipperary.
Full backs
2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
3. Joey Holden (Kilkenny)
4. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
Breakdown:
Two from Kilkenny and one from Tipperary in our full-back line. Paul Murphy is Mr. Consistency for Kilkenny and alongside him, captain Joey Holden led by example. Holden put the shackles on Joe Canning in the Leinster and All-Ireland finals to cap a brilliant season that also saw him win an AIB All-Ireland club medal with Ballyhale Shamrocks. Barrett returned from injury to play a key role for Tipperary in their march to Munster championship glory.
Half backs
5. Daithi Burke (Galway)
6. Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford)
7. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
Breakdown:
Burke was one of Galway’s standout defenders as they reached the All-Ireland final, while de Búrca played the sweeper role to perfection for Waterford. The half-back line is completed by Cillian Buckley, who took his game to a new level this season. Buckley was the man who saved Kilkenny from relegation against Clare with a late winning point in the playoff and he was excellent right through the championship.
Midfielders
8. David Burke (Galway)
9. Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny)
Breakdown:
Even in defeat, Burke shone for Galway in the All-Ireland final and his midfield sidekick is man of the match from that game, Michael Fennelly. It may have been an injury-interrupted summer for Fennelly but he showed his true worth when it mattered most, powering his team to glory in a colossal second half display at Croke Park.
Half forwards
10. Jason Flynn (Galway)
11. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
12. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Breakdown:
Galway fans may lament the fact that they don’t have more forwards in our selection but this was a hugely competitive unit. Conor Whelan, Jason Flynn, Cathal Mannion and Jonathan Glynn will all feel they have genuine Allstar claims but we plumped for Flynn from that quartet.
We’ve accommodated the scorer of that brilliant All-Ireland final point in the half-forward line alongside 2014 Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan, and Hurler of the Year in waiting TJ Reid. Both Kilkenny men were excellent again this summer, with Reid notching crucial goals in the All-Ireland semi-final and final. Reid finished with a massive personal tally of 4-32 from championship 2015.
Full-forwards
13. Ger Aylward (Kilkenny)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford)
Breakdown:
One each from Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford make up our full-forward line. Tipperary talisman Seamus Callanan shot the lights out with a championship haul of 5-20, including a stunning tally of 3-9 in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway. He’s flanked on the inside line by Kilkenny’s breakthrough star Ger Aylward, who bagged a hat-trick of goals on his championship debut against Wexford.
Maurice Shanahan is rewarded with Waterford’s second Allstar in our selection. In the absence of injured forward Pauric Mahony, Shanahan took over free-taking responsibilities and showed great leadership throughout the summer, helping himself to 2-38 along the way.
What do you think of our team? Leave your feedback in the comments section below…
Aussie gleeson before De Burca he only looked to be good cuz he was the extra player
Good point but De Burca is nailed on. The media appear not to take the fact he was a free man in to consideration.
As said in the article played the sweeper role brilliantly ,if you’re marking you’re doing it wrong. Noel Connors unlucky tho ,he had Pa Horgan in his pocket for two big games this year.
That’ll be 4 for Paul Murphy in 4 years some going. In fairness some player
3 in 4 years*
Can’t really argue with that, people putting Johnny Glynn on the team was mad as he was average in each game bar cork. If Mannion had a played average in Leinster and all Ireland finals he’d be nearly hurler of the year but he was poor in both, great in all other games.
Glynn won a rake of puck outs every game or at least broke them down. Invaluable in a forward line. Very underrated before cork game and over hyped after
That could be spot on.
wat does Conor Fogarty have to do to get all star also Eoin Larkin hardest working and most consistent kk player all year
I’m from tipp and would only have s callinan as sole tipp representative on team
No joe canning
No. Are you surprised? I’m not.
Yeah he went for a walkabout on Jones road in the 2nd half
so did the rest of the team, can’t blame one indivdual
No but Canning is supposed to be the main man. Most of the Kilkenny team didn’t perform in the second half against Galway in the 2012 All Ireland final but yet Henry Shefflin gave a masterclass. For some reason people always try make excuses for Joe Canning. It’s about time these people woke up and realised he’s not as good as was expected of him.
Bubbles for ger aylward
Bubbles wasn’t there in the semi tho
No chance of that happening.
Shane Fives ahead of Cashel Barrett?
canning is top scorer (2nd top scorer from play behind mannion) people expect a lot more from him! I’ll put my house on it that he’ll get one!
You will be losing your house so. Putting up big scores against weak teams doesn’t guarantee an All Star. He scored a goal in the Leinster final but did nothing else, was awful against a terrible Cork team, didn’t do a huge amount against Tipp and disappeared in the second half of the All Ireland when his county needed him the most!
you couldn’t be more wrong, what weak teams did they play?
Couldn’t be more wrong! Really? Canning scored 1-15 against Laois. The last time I checked they were not exactly a hurling force.
It’s also easy to be top scorer when you’ve played the most games. TJ Reid, Maurice Shanahan & Seamus Callanan all had higher scoring averages. Those 3 are guaranteed All Stars. That shows being the top scorer isn’t everything.
Laois and a poor Dublin side in the first round of Leinster. Including reply he scored 2-9 then 1-15 against a poor Laois team.
Paddy Murphy from Offaly for Jason flynn
Fairly spot on team . No real other stand out consistent players
Cathal Barrett god dam predictive txt.
Barrett deserves one for sure in my book but I’d have James Barry of Tipp instead of Holden at full back. Other than that the team is pretty close to the one that’ll actually be announced I’d say.
Canning should nearly be there ahead of Aylward too maybe. The goal in Lenister final and to be fair despite the wides he hit he still got savage scores in every game. In his defence he was pretty much double marked 2nd half of AI final
James Barry??? That gave me a good laugh. Thanks!!
Ger Aylward apart from his scoring ( 3-15 or so ) was a symbol of the Kilkenny forwards working back ethic – he also was a key provider such as TJ Reids goal with the hopped pass and was very industrious
Very little from Shanahan apart from frees I would have Mannion