Be interesting to see. I know it’s only league but there seems to be a huge drop in performance when Quaid doesn’t play
Nickie will hang on until joes youngfella is ready
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Jesus it would be tough, but I’d probably just give Huw the nod
PwC Hurling All-Star 2023 selectors:
Colm Keys (Irish Independent), Seán Moran (Irish Times), John Fogarty (Irish Examiner), Pat Nolan (Irish Mirror), Damian Lawlor (RTÉ), MacDara MacDonncha (TG4), Philip Lannigan (Irish Daily Mail), John Harrington (gaa.ie), Joanne Cantwell (RTÉ), Gráinne McElwaine (GAAGO), Fintan O’Toole (the42.ie), Marty Morrissey (RTE).
Hi MacDara, would you mind being a selector on the All Stars?
Sure, can I base my selection on some of the many league games I broadcast?
No. See you next week.
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Anthony Daly on All-Stars: Marginal calls but not too many were wronged
Enjoy the night lads. Whether I won an award, or didn’t, I always made sure I did anyway. For me, that was nearly always the best part of the All-Stars.
When I think back to when I won my first All-Star in 1994, one of my abiding memories of the night itself was being afflicted by a touch of imposter syndrome. Clare were well beaten in the Munster final and I remember thinking there were lads who didn’t get one, but who had played in an All-Ireland final, saying to themselves, ‘What’s he doing here, who is he?’
It’s a different time now. There isn’t knockout championship anymore but there is a very evident trend emerging from the All-Stars – you won’t get an All-Star anymore unless you play in an All-Ireland final, or have an exceptional season with your side reaching the last four.
Being honest, I can relate to some of that sentiment too. When I captained Clare to the 1997 All-Ireland, I felt I deserved an All-Star but I didn’t get one. I was fairly disappointed but, when I thought back on it afterwards, I accepted that there probably was somebody better than me that season.
That kind of attitude almost sums up the whole mentality around the All-Stars. When you’re good enough, and you feel you totally deserve it, you – and everybody else – knows it too. But when you’re on the verge, as I felt I was in 1994 and 1997, you can feel a little like a cheat, or that you’ve been cheated.
There are always marginal calls but when the boys strut their stuff on stage on Friday night, there won’t be many cases to be made for lads who felt they were wronged.
Eoin Murphy and Nickie Quaid have taken ownership of the goalkeeping award but Murph definitely deserved it this season - primarily because he had far more to do than Nickie. The wonder save from Peter Duggan in the All-Ireland semi-final had probably already clinched the Kilkenny man’s spot before the final was even played.
The full-back line picks itself but the half-back line was certainly debatable. I knew there would be a Clareman in that line but, was I certain that it would be John Conlon? Not really. I’m delighted for John but I’d have nearly gone for David McInerney on the wing, who I felt was Clare’s best player all season with Shane O’Donnell.
In terms of a team though, naming John at centre-back makes it more balanced, especially when William O’Donoghue was nominated at midfield, despite having played the All-Ireland semi-final and final deputising for Declan Hannon at number 6. O’Donoghue was outstanding at centre-back, but he had an excellent season full stop.
If O’Donoghue had been named in an all-Limerick half-back line, that might have opened the door at midfield for Tony Kelly and David Fitzgerald. But I always felt that Clare would only get two All-Stars and – when Davy Mac didn’t get one – John C deserved one ahead of David and Tony.
Clare people may feel TK was a little bit hard done and, while I understand that viewpoint, I don’t think Tony will have too many complaints himself, especially after his Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final performances. And particularly with the way Tony personally measures his standards.
TJ Reid wasn’t the usual TJ either, especially from play, but he’s still the fulcrum for Kilkenny. Certain players will always get the nod in a tight shout because of their reputation but TJ earned that reputation the hard way. TJ has seven awards now, which is almost fitting for the place he already occupies in the pantheon of greats.
The rest of the forwards are fully deserving of their award but for me, Aaron Gillane should be the Hurler of the Year because he was the most consistent player of the championship after the first couple of matches. Mark Rodgers will be expected to win Young Hurler of the Year but I think Adam Hogan deserves the award.
What summed up Hogan for me was how well he responded after such a difficult start on his debut against Tipperary. For corner-backs, you need to get that chin up fair quick the next day and by God did Adam lift that chin up in the Gaelic Grounds just six days later. Adam was rock solid afterwards.
I know Cork’s Eoin Downey couldn’t play the Munster U20 final either for the same reasons but I really believe that Clare could have been celebrating an All-Ireland minor and U20 double if Adam hadn’t been a victim of that crazy rule where the most talented U20s can’t play with their peers if they are good enough to play senior.
Then again, we’re always giving about something. Yet I don’t think many people will have too many complaints with the 15 lads picked for 2023. Fair play to each and every one of them.
Enjoy the night lads. Whether I won an award, or didn’t, I always made sure I did anyway. For me, that was nearly always the best part of the All-Stars.
Gillane was the most consistent player in the championship if you ignore the first few games sums up Daly 
Hard believe Conlan only has two All Stars. A joke
You’d wonder why they dont just give these Awards out some Sunday night in early September now.
Its so long ago since these matches were played that I doubt many even remember who played well in particular games.
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TJ Ried the oldest player to win one in 40 years according to some lad on instagram
I don’t think I would but either view is fair. I wouldn’t pick Murphy over quaid in a month of Sundays because quaids all round game is so much better but Murphy definitely deserved the all star for some spectacular saves this year.
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Given Quaid is legally blind you’d feel he deserves more accolades.
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Taking the knee was a slight on the Association
Reid is definitely carried by his profile more than his on field ability at this stage of his career
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Dan is class, but I’d say he benefits from a system and the quality of those around him more than Lawlor, who’s nigh on unbeatable wan-on-wan.
Agree re Murphy. Deserves his all star but I wouldn’t pick him ahead of Quaid in a month of Sundays
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Barry Nash should have got one
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Best defender in Ireland last year IMO
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Did he defend this year?
John Conlon doesn’t deserve to join the forwards and back crew either.
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TJ the 5th oldest hurler to win an All Star apparently. The other 4 geriatrics ahead of him all from Kilkenny as well.