FOUR TEAMS LEFT in the race.
Provincial champions Galway and Cork, along with the quarter-final victors Tipperary and Waterford, are the outfits still trying to land the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2017.
With just three games left – barring replays – we’ve had a good look at the best players in the country to date this season and we’ve had a go at trying to pick our All-Star hurling sides on the form to date.
When we selected the team at this stage last year, eight players ended up claiming All-Star awards in November.
There’s consensus below in choosing star men to date in Anthony Nash, Daithi Burke, Damian Cahalane, Mark Coleman, Lee Chin, Jamie Barron, Joe Canning, Conor Lehane, Seamus Callanan and Conor Whelan.
But there are differences elsewhere in the selections and the remaining matches in August and September will be revealing.
Don’t agree with the teams? Head straight to the comments to tell us why we’re wrong.
Fintan O’Toole
1. Anthony Nash (Cork)
2. Daithi Burke (Galway)
3. Damien Cahalane (Cork)
4. Noel Connors (Waterford)
5. Padraic Maher (Tipperary)
6. Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford)
7. Mark Coleman (Cork)
8. Lee Chin (Wexford)
9. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
10. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
11. Joe Canning (Galway)
12. Conor Lehane (Cork)
13. Conor Cooney (Galway)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. Conor Whelan (Galway)
Jackie Cahill
1. Anthony Nash (Cork)
2. Adrian Tuohy (Galway)
3. Damien Cahalane (Cork)
4. Daithí Burke (Galway)
5. Aidan Harte (Galway)
6. Tadhg De Búrca (Waterford)
7. Mark Coleman (Cork)
8. Lee Chin (Wexford)
9. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
10. Joseph Cooney (Galway)
11. Joe Canning (Galway)
12. Conor Lehane (Cork)
13. Conor Whelan (Galway)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. Patrick Horgan (Cork)
Kevin O’Brien
1. Anthony Nash (Cork)
2. Tommy Doyle (Westmeath)
3. Daithi Burke (Galway)
4. Damien Cahalane (Cork)
5. Aidan Harte (Galway)
6. Padraic Maher (Tipperary)
7. Mark Coleman (Cork)
8. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
9. Lee Chin (Wexford)
10. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
11. Joe Canning (Galway)
12. Conor Lehane (Cork)
13. Conor Whelan (Galway)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. Conor Cooney (Galway)
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Lee Chin has hurled well but he’s been so overrated this year. I dunno how many times they’re bringing up that catch against Kilkenny. Darragh Fitzgibbon has to be a lock for midfield.
@Leon: couldnt agree more. Not as good as last year. There by name only. Was very poor in his last game.
Also, Austin Gleeson picked in two teams is puzzling. A few flashes of brilliance only he is capable of but very hot and cold all season. Undoubtedly one of the top 5 hurlers in the country based on ability but hasn’t done it this year.
@Leon: I’m from Waterford and having Gleeson included in 2 of the teams is baffling to me. He is one of the most overrated and inconsistent players I have seen. When he’s good he’s unbelievable but it’s the 6 wides a game that’s so frustrating for me. Was a good shout for young hurler of the year last year but shouldn’t have gotten the hurler of the year award.
@Brian Murphy: Definitely, Brick and Kevin Moran, especially, hurl twice as much ball as Gleeson in every game. I’d say the lads picking the teams here might watch the highlights of games and go off that. Tabloid stuff.
If any wexican all star its o hanlon or o keefe and thats from a wexican !
It has been callanans worst year by far shudnt be in the team at the moment unless they beat galway and he does something there. Scoring a few goals against dublin and westmeath shudnt get u an all star.
Sthephen o keefe surely
Is Kevin O’Brien on acid? Pauric Maher hasn’t hurled a minute at no. 6 all year. He’s been brilliant but put him in his rightful place at 7 or 5. De Burca at 6 all day so far this year
@Enda Scully: I totally agree there must be something in the water with kevin. No j Mcgrath either he surely deserves an all star!
@Enda Scully: I might be wrong now Enda but thought they didn’t have to be selected in the position they actually play, any more.
@Enda Scully:
But don’t the All Stars sometimes pick some players out of position so as to fit the best 15 players?
@Enda Scully: Easy for De Burca to look good with no one marking him. Much overrated
Cadogan
@Aiden: Frustratingly inconsistent, hopefully he carries the form from the Munster Final into next weekend.
@Johnny: I know what your saying but he’s been very good in all the matches so far hopefully he keeps it going.I think the same can be said about the team in general last few years
@Johnny: Inconsistent? Cadogan performs in almost every game..
Darren Fitzgibbon over Jamie Barron surely? He’s been brilliant, out of the Jerry O’Conner mold. Colm Spillane is unlucky as well. How is Noel Connors anywhere near any of those teams!
Gearóid McInerney should be on at least one of the lists..
Steven o keefe stands out a mile above any other keeper was very busy allready this year some of the saves were top class why the cork keeper ?
@Michael Kennedy: O’Keeffe is easily the best shot stopper in the country but Nash’s distribution and the impact it’s had on Cork’s success thus far with some good saves thrown in puts him ahead in All-Star contention at this point.
Jackie Cahill’s team is fairly spot on!
Joe Canning is a unanimous choice? He has scored 0-02 from play in this year’s championship.
The same amount his marker Matthew O’Hanlon scored from play in the Leinster Final.
@Ger Ryan: he’s doing a lot of background work this year.. he has sat back in the half back/midfield and has set up a lot of scores for galway… He’s thriving more in this role than when he was shoved on the edge if the square
Three good teams but i like the look of Fintan O Toole’s team.That’s pretty much the team i’d pick.
@mark kenny: good team, Jackie left off Conor Cooney.
I know this is unrelated but has anyone any word on de burca?
@John Barnes: Unfortunately for Waterford, nothing before Monday 6pm. Way too late.
@Enda McCallion: feck it thanks
All star selection process is a joke.unless your part of a team in the semi finals you’ve no chance.historically,the finalist will get 10-11 and beaten semi finalists get the leftovers.no consideration for league form.
Colm Callanan in Goal for me. He was superb again today and those 2 saves that he made meant that Galway are in the final
No Padraig Mannion? At least as good as Harte all year long; if Daithi Burke can strangely be shunted to corner-bank, then room should be made somewhere for Mannion in the HB line. No David Burke either?
No Padraig Mannion? If Daithi Burke can be picked in the corner then a place in the HB line should be found for Mannion, as good as Harte all year. No David Burke either? Just as good as JC in 2017.