15 players from Limerick as 8 counties feature in 2018 All-Star hurling nominations

Galway, Cork, Clare, Kilkenny, Wexford, Dublin and Tipperary also have nominees.

IT’S A CLEAN sweep for All-Ireland champions Limerick as their starting fifteen from last month’s final success have all been nominated for the 2018 GAA-GPA PWC All-Star hurling awards.

Limerick celebrates after the game with the Liam MacCarthy Limerick players celebrate their All-Ireland final victory. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

The 45-player shortlist has been released today for this year’s awards which recognise the star players from the 2018 hurling championship action.

All of Limerick’s players will be chasing their first All-Star with the three most recent recipients from the county – Richie McCarthy, Seamus Hickey and Shane Dowling – all amongst the substitutes for the decider triumph over Galway.

Eight counties in total have nominations. Limerick are followed in the rankings by beaten finalists Galway with nine nominees, there are seven Cork players recognised, with five hurlers from both Clare and Kilkenny in the running.

Clare's John Conlon. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Two players from Wexford – Liam Ryan and Paudie Foley – along with Dublin’s Chris Crummey and Tipperary’s Jason Forde complete the list.

Tipperary's Jason Forde. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

There are seven players from the 2017 All-Star side nominated on this occasion – Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Mark Coleman, David Burke, Joe Canning, Conor Whelan and Patrick Horgan.

Both David and Daithi Burke will be chasing their fourth consecutive All-Star.

Galway's David Burke Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO