A few tidy midfielders left out and a few lads who got the nod ahead of them due to being hurler of the year or winning multiple all stars like Shane McGrath and Paul Kelly.
Kevin Moran and Richie Hogan could well have featured here but both will be wing forward nominees.
Taking out Kelly and McGrath who were nice hurlers but not at the levels of the others listed I think whatever two are picked here you would have a nice midfield. All have their own strengths and we’re fine players. Tommy Dunne probably had more better days in the 90s but was HOTY in 2001, may not have included him otherwise.
Lynch played nine seasons in the 2000s compared to 3 in the 90s. Won an all star in the both decades. Played well up til the end in 2008 at midfield when he was 35.
I’d have Lyng and Burke ahead of him in the all action midfield stakes though, all had/have great engines. Cha and Cian Lynch could do things with the ball that others on the list could only dream of while Barron, Kenny and O’Connor all had great pace. Brendan Maher was solid but I think he has hurled better as a back.
Fennelly and burke, score getters, good passers, could take control and turn a game better than the rest there. Cha had his moments, but lacked the longevity. The rest good but a step below
He was excellent there this year in fairness and has some wrists. I think experience has stood to him though, would he have had the maturity and work rate for it 7 or 8 years ago is debatable.