Tadhg de Burca is one of Waterford’s 11 All-Star nominations, he’s also nominated for the Young Hurler of the Year. Photo: Inpho.
With the inter-county GAA season now done and dusted for another year, it’s the time of year when the various awards ceremonies take over and in the GAA world there’s none bigger than the All-Stars.
After the football nominations were announced earlier last week, it was the turn of the hurlers on Friday to learn their fate and it was very good news for Waterford as the National League Champions and All-Ireland semi-finalists picked up now less than 11 nominations, just one behind the tally of the All-Ireland finalists, champions Kilkenny and runners-up Galway who collected 12 nominations each. Munster champions Tipperary claim seven nominations with Cork, Clare and Dublin completing the list of 45 with one each. In all seven counties are represented.
It is a testimony to the Déise’s defensive strength this year that all six of the county’s regular six starting backs are nominated: Shane Fives (Tourin), Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner), Noel Connors (Passage), Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion), Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg) and Philip Mahony (Ballygunner). In midfield, Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater) and team captain Kevin Moran (De La Salle) are nominated, while in the forwards Colin Dunford (Colligan), Maurice Shanahan (Lismore) and Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh (Stradbally) are also in the mix to make the 2015 GAA GPA Team of the Year.
There is also joy for Waterford in the individual awards with Clashmore’s Tadhg de Burca nominated for the Young Hurler of the Year award along with Galway pair, Jason Flynn and Cathal Mannion. While the three candidates for the Hurler of the Year accolade are Kilkenny duo, Richie Hogan (last year’s winner) and TJ Reid and Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan.
As ever it is almost impossibe to second guess the judges but with 11 nominations and after the great season that Waterford enjoyed you would have to imagine that the Déise will pick up a minimum of two awards and it might be more than that. Again you would have to speculate that Tadhg de Burca, Austin Gleeson and Maurice Shanahan will be the favourites to make the team and after that any number of the 11 could make the final team.
All of the awards winners will receive their prizes on the evening of Friday November 6 2015 in the National Convention Centre in Dublin.
The successful hurlers will be announced live on the evening.
2015 GAA GPA Hurling All-Star nominations sponsored by Opel
Goalkeepers: Colm Callanan (Galway), Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny), Darren Gleeson (Tipperary).
Defenders: Daithí Burke (Galway), Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny), Joey Holden (Kilkenny), Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), Pádraic Walsh (Kilkenny), Johnny Coen (Galway), Iarla Tannion (Galway), Pádraig Mannion (Galway), Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny), Pádraic Maher (Tipperary), Cathal Barrett (Tipperary), James Barry (Tipperary), Noel Connors (Waterford), Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford), Shane Fives (Waterford), Austin Gleeson (Waterford), Barry Coughlan (Waterford), Philip Mahony (Waterford).
Midfielders: Andrew Smith (Galway), David Burke (Galway), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny), Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny), Kevin Moran (Waterford), Jamie Barron (Waterford).
Forwards: Tony Kelly (Clare), Séamus Harnedy (Cork), Mark Schutte (Dublin), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Jason Flynn (Galway), Jonathan Glynn (Galway), Joe Canning (Galway), Conor Whelan (Galway), Ger Aylward (Kilkenny), TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), Brendan Maher (Tipperary), John O’Dwyer (Tipperary), Séamus Callanan (Tipperary), Colin Dunford (Waterford), Maurice Shanahan (Waterford), Michael Walsh (Waterford).
Player of the Year
TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), Séamus Callanan (Tipperary).
Young Player of the Year
Jason Flynn (Galway), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford).
