TJ REID, RICHIE Hogan and Joe Canning head the list of contenders for the RTÉ Sunday Game man of the match award from Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final.
Paddy Power bookmakers have released odds on the individual accolade and they make for interesting reading.
Kilkenny hotshot Reid is favourite at 5-1, teammate Hogan is a 6-1 shot and Galway hitman Canning is a 7-1 chance.
But recent All-Ireland finals have taught us that a ‘bolter’ can arrive from left field to claim the commemorative crystal.
Kieran Joyce won it last year after he was parachuted into the Kilkenny team for the All-Ireland final replay against Tipperary.
Who would have thought that Clare’s Shane O’Donnell would score that hat-trick of goals against Cork two years ago?
And don’t forget Kilkenny star Walter Walsh’s bolt from the blue in the 2012 replay, when he was drafted in to score 1-3 against Galway.
Here are six players we reckon you should keep a close eye on in next Sunday’s final:
1. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny) 20-1
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Buckley has been enjoying a stellar season for Kilkenny, excelling in the left half back position.
TJ Reid was man of the match in the semi-final victory over Waterford but Buckley was superb again in the Cats’ half back line.
Buckley has already captured a man of the match award against Galway, in the All-Ireland minor semi-final five years ago.
And he could be well worth a tenner at 20-1 odds to repeat the trick on the biggest stage of all.
Advertisement
2. Colm Callanan (Galway) 50-1
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Callanan was superb between the sticks for Galway in their All-Ireland semi-final victory over Tipperary.
Seamus Callanan may have scored three goals but Callanan pulled off a penalty save from the Tipp attacker, and also denied ‘Bonner’ Maher with a crucial second half stop.
Galway netminder Callanan has been superb this season and right now, he’s the hot favourite for the Allstar award later in the year.
He’s sure to be busy against the Kilkenny attack on Sunday but a few good saves and a solid puckout display could have put him in the mix.
3. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny) 20-1
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
We’ve already reflected on Henry Shefflin’s brilliant display in the 2012 All-Ireland final but Paul Murphy was superb on that occasion too.
The Danesfort corner back is a model of consistency but as a defender, he might not often get the recognition that he deserves.
Shefflin was named Hurler of the Year in 2012 but Murphy was a brilliant shout for that individual award after a super season.
At 20-1, he’s worth a nibble as a Kilkenny full-back line potentially without Jackie Tyrrell may be in for plenty of work.
Tannian has already won an All-Ireland final man of the match award before, following the drawn 2012 decider with Kilkenny.
And his individual battle with Richie Hogan could go a long way towards deciding the destination of the Liam MacCarthy Cup on Sunday.
If Tannian can do what so many have failed to, and nullify the influence of Hogan, he’ll surely come into the reckoning.
Tannian will provide added protection to his full-back line and should see plenty of possession, which will catch the eye of man of the match selectors.
5. Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny) 33-1
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Could he possibly do it again? Well, the bookmakers don’t think so as they price Kieran Joyce at 33-1 to win the man of the match award.
Joyce was sensational against Tipp at Croke Park last September and in such a pivotal position at centre back, he’s sure to be one of the main protagonists against Galway.
Joyce’s individual battle with Cyril Donnellan is a crucial one but he’ll be asked to mark a number of roving Galway forwards over the course of 70 minutes, unless boss Brian Cody asks his defenders to go man for man throughout the entire game.
Forwards invariably catch the eye for high-scoring displays but Joyce is one of those who could emerge from the shadows once again and produce a big performance.
6. Padraig Mannion (Galway) 40-1
Padraig Mannion has his hands full against Seamus Callanan in the All-Ireland semi-final. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Mannion has plenty to prove after he was taken to the cleaners by Seamus Callanan in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Going by numbers, it looks like Mannion will pick up Ger Aylward, with John Hanbury handed the task of coping with Kilkenny ace TJ Reid.
Until the semi-final, Mannion had been enjoying a dream season but he now faces a huge test of character and mental strength.
If he can bounce back and curb the threat and influence of Aylward, the ultimate redemption for Mannion could arrive in the form of an All-Ireland medal, and possibly the man of the match award to boot.
6 All-Ireland hurling final man of the match contenders that could win you BIG money
TJ REID, RICHIE Hogan and Joe Canning head the list of contenders for the RTÉ Sunday Game man of the match award from Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final.
Paddy Power bookmakers have released odds on the individual accolade and they make for interesting reading.
Kilkenny hotshot Reid is favourite at 5-1, teammate Hogan is a 6-1 shot and Galway hitman Canning is a 7-1 chance.
Kieran Joyce won it last year after he was parachuted into the Kilkenny team for the All-Ireland final replay against Tipperary.
Who would have thought that Clare’s Shane O’Donnell would score that hat-trick of goals against Cork two years ago?
And don’t forget Kilkenny star Walter Walsh’s bolt from the blue in the 2012 replay, when he was drafted in to score 1-3 against Galway.
Here are six players we reckon you should keep a close eye on in next Sunday’s final:
1. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny) 20-1
Buckley has been enjoying a stellar season for Kilkenny, excelling in the left half back position.
TJ Reid was man of the match in the semi-final victory over Waterford but Buckley was superb again in the Cats’ half back line.
Buckley has already captured a man of the match award against Galway, in the All-Ireland minor semi-final five years ago.
And he could be well worth a tenner at 20-1 odds to repeat the trick on the biggest stage of all.
2. Colm Callanan (Galway) 50-1
Callanan was superb between the sticks for Galway in their All-Ireland semi-final victory over Tipperary.
Seamus Callanan may have scored three goals but Callanan pulled off a penalty save from the Tipp attacker, and also denied ‘Bonner’ Maher with a crucial second half stop.
Galway netminder Callanan has been superb this season and right now, he’s the hot favourite for the Allstar award later in the year.
He’s sure to be busy against the Kilkenny attack on Sunday but a few good saves and a solid puckout display could have put him in the mix.
3. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny) 20-1
We’ve already reflected on Henry Shefflin’s brilliant display in the 2012 All-Ireland final but Paul Murphy was superb on that occasion too.
The Danesfort corner back is a model of consistency but as a defender, he might not often get the recognition that he deserves.
Shefflin was named Hurler of the Year in 2012 but Murphy was a brilliant shout for that individual award after a super season.
At 20-1, he’s worth a nibble as a Kilkenny full-back line potentially without Jackie Tyrrell may be in for plenty of work.
4. Iarla Tannian (Galway) 22-1
Tannian has already won an All-Ireland final man of the match award before, following the drawn 2012 decider with Kilkenny.
And his individual battle with Richie Hogan could go a long way towards deciding the destination of the Liam MacCarthy Cup on Sunday.
If Tannian can do what so many have failed to, and nullify the influence of Hogan, he’ll surely come into the reckoning.
Tannian will provide added protection to his full-back line and should see plenty of possession, which will catch the eye of man of the match selectors.
5. Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny) 33-1
Could he possibly do it again? Well, the bookmakers don’t think so as they price Kieran Joyce at 33-1 to win the man of the match award.
Joyce was sensational against Tipp at Croke Park last September and in such a pivotal position at centre back, he’s sure to be one of the main protagonists against Galway.
Joyce’s individual battle with Cyril Donnellan is a crucial one but he’ll be asked to mark a number of roving Galway forwards over the course of 70 minutes, unless boss Brian Cody asks his defenders to go man for man throughout the entire game.
Forwards invariably catch the eye for high-scoring displays but Joyce is one of those who could emerge from the shadows once again and produce a big performance.
6. Padraig Mannion (Galway) 40-1
Mannion has plenty to prove after he was taken to the cleaners by Seamus Callanan in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Going by numbers, it looks like Mannion will pick up Ger Aylward, with John Hanbury handed the task of coping with Kilkenny ace TJ Reid.
Until the semi-final, Mannion had been enjoying a dream season but he now faces a huge test of character and mental strength.
If he can bounce back and curb the threat and influence of Aylward, the ultimate redemption for Mannion could arrive in the form of an All-Ireland medal, and possibly the man of the match award to boot.
‘It’s beginning to grate, becoming a bit of a pain in the butt’
It’s 27 years since Galway won the All-Ireland hurling title…but where are they now?
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
All-Ireland SHC COMP:ALL-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship GAA Galway Hurling Kilkenny man of the match Galway Kilkenny