Two All-Star hurling nominations for Waterford

Despite bowing out in the Munster round robin, Waterford picked up two PwC GAA/GPA All Star hurling nominations on Friday morning. Defenders Tadhg De Burca and Calum Lyons are both in the shake-up for the team which will be revealed live on RTÉ at the RDS banquet on Friday, November 1.

After a 364 day absence, De Burca returned to the number six shirt for the Munster championship win over Cork at Walsh Park. The Clashmore/Kinsalebeg colossus suffered an achilles injury the previous year against Limerick. "Tadhg is a special guy," manager Davy Fitzgerald remarked after that Cork victory. "To come back from last year, it takes character and it takes resilience." De Burca boasts two All Stars already from 2015 and 2020. He was also named 2015 Young Hurler of the Year.

Lyons is looking for his first. The Ballyduff Lower man is a powerful athlete who strides forward to hit crowd lifting scores. He struck three points from play against both Cork and Tipperary. He finished the Munster championship with nine in total. This is his third All Star nomination (2020, 2021 and 2024).

Unsurprisingly, All Ireland champions Clare top the pile with fourteen nominations. Cathal Malone is the only member of Brian Lohan's starting fifteen to miss out. Cork are next best with ten. Munster champions Limerick got nine nominations while Leinster winners Kilkenny will feel hard done by with four. Goal getter Eoin Cody is a surprising omission. Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Antrim received two apiece.

Banner full forward Shane O'Donnell is the frontrunner for Hurler of the Year. He is joined on the shortlist by Rebel midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon and Limerick wing back Kyle Hayes. Clare's Adam Hogan, Eoin Downey of Cork and Cathal O'Neill from Limerick are in the shake-up for Young Hurler of the Year.