THERE’S THREE COUNTIES, and three very talented hurlers competing for this year’s GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year award.
Wexford powerhouse Conor McDonald has been nominated for his senior and U21 performances, while Tipperary’s Cathal Barrett and Limerick’s Shane Dowling have also put age aside and lit up this year’s senior championship.
The winner will be announced on October 24th at the AllStar awards ceremony, and any of the three listed would be worthy winners, but who will take the crown?
We make a case for each of the nominees:
Conor McDonald
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Conor McDonald really lit up the summer with his touches of class and scoring exploits in the Wexford full-forward line in their run to the quarter final of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
McDonald’s ball winning capabilities, despite still being just 19, proved a vital outlet for a Wexford team who finally made the breakthrough this year.
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McDonald found the back of the net, crucially in wins over both Clare and Waterford during the summer.
Yet the youngster added to his stakes for this prize with some further breathtaking performances as Wexford reached the U21 All-Ireland hurling final.
McDonald gave numerous man of the match performances throughout the campaign, still managing 1-1 despite defeat in the final to an exceptional Clare team.
Cathal Barrett
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The corner back did a fantastic marshalling job on Cork’s Pat Horgan in the semi-final, keeping the Leeside attacker scoreless from play for the first time in four years.
Having just made his senior debut for Tipp back in February, The Holycross-Ballycahill man has been an ever present in the Tipp defence since then.
Barrett has switched between wing-back and corner back this season, but he seemed to have really settled into the corner-back position which he made his own over the season.
It is notoriously more difficult for a defender to win an individual award, but from day one in the league Barrett has impressed with his man marking job on Henry Shefflin initially catching the eye.
And in a highly competitive Tipp defence the youngster held on to his place and continued to impress right up to the All-Ireland finals where he was a Man of the Match nominee in the drawn game.
Shane Dowling
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Dowling really followed though on his undoubted talent this summer, taking on the responsibility of Limerick’s go to man in the inside line.
The big corner forward scored 2-09 as the Treaty Men beat Tipperary for the first time in 41 years at Semple Stadium. His late goal proving the vital score.
The Na Piarsaigh man went on to continue his scoring form throughout the summer, 2-8 against Wexford in Thurles, 2-4 of which came from play earning him the player of the month award for July.
Dowling’s eye for goal and big match attitude has left him amongst the country’s top forwards this year and he managed eight of his team’s 1-14 in this year’s Munster U21 defeat to Clare.
Making a case for each of the three Young Hurler of the Year contenders – who should win?
THERE’S THREE COUNTIES, and three very talented hurlers competing for this year’s GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year award.
Wexford powerhouse Conor McDonald has been nominated for his senior and U21 performances, while Tipperary’s Cathal Barrett and Limerick’s Shane Dowling have also put age aside and lit up this year’s senior championship.
The winner will be announced on October 24th at the AllStar awards ceremony, and any of the three listed would be worthy winners, but who will take the crown?
We make a case for each of the nominees:
Conor McDonald
Conor McDonald really lit up the summer with his touches of class and scoring exploits in the Wexford full-forward line in their run to the quarter final of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
McDonald’s ball winning capabilities, despite still being just 19, proved a vital outlet for a Wexford team who finally made the breakthrough this year.
McDonald found the back of the net, crucially in wins over both Clare and Waterford during the summer.
Yet the youngster added to his stakes for this prize with some further breathtaking performances as Wexford reached the U21 All-Ireland hurling final.
McDonald gave numerous man of the match performances throughout the campaign, still managing 1-1 despite defeat in the final to an exceptional Clare team.
Cathal Barrett
The corner back did a fantastic marshalling job on Cork’s Pat Horgan in the semi-final, keeping the Leeside attacker scoreless from play for the first time in four years.
Having just made his senior debut for Tipp back in February, The Holycross-Ballycahill man has been an ever present in the Tipp defence since then.
Barrett has switched between wing-back and corner back this season, but he seemed to have really settled into the corner-back position which he made his own over the season.
It is notoriously more difficult for a defender to win an individual award, but from day one in the league Barrett has impressed with his man marking job on Henry Shefflin initially catching the eye.
And in a highly competitive Tipp defence the youngster held on to his place and continued to impress right up to the All-Ireland finals where he was a Man of the Match nominee in the drawn game.
Shane Dowling
Dowling really followed though on his undoubted talent this summer, taking on the responsibility of Limerick’s go to man in the inside line.
The big corner forward scored 2-09 as the Treaty Men beat Tipperary for the first time in 41 years at Semple Stadium. His late goal proving the vital score.
The Na Piarsaigh man went on to continue his scoring form throughout the summer, 2-8 against Wexford in Thurles, 2-4 of which came from play earning him the player of the month award for July.
Dowling’s eye for goal and big match attitude has left him amongst the country’s top forwards this year and he managed eight of his team’s 1-14 in this year’s Munster U21 defeat to Clare.
6 key games thrown up by last night’s GAA Championship draws
Making a case for each of the three Hurler of the Year contenders – who should win?
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All-Ireland Senior HC Clare Wexford tight call