Tipp set to end Hurling All-Star drought

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary’s incredible All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship success should get sheen added to it when the PWC GAA/GPA Hurling All Stars are announced later this week.

This year, it is the turn of the hurling winners to be announced in advance, on Thursday morning, ahead of the All-Star ceremony which takes place at the RDS in Dublin on Friday evening, and will be live on RTE2 from 7.00pm, at which the football All-Star team will be revealed for the first time, as well as the individual player of the year awards.

All-Ireland champions Tipperary have thirteen players nominated with almost half virtual certainties to be selected, starting with Rhys Shelly in goal. Robert Doyle, Ronan Maher and Eoghan Connolly should be selected in defence while Hurler of the Year nominees Jake Morris and John McGrath, along with Cork’s Brian Hayes, should be selected in the forwards, barring a repeat of 1995 when Offaly’s Brian Whelehan was selected as Hurler of the Year, but wasn’t selected to the All-Star team.

Tipperary will have strong claims to secure one more All-Star, including Bryan O’Mara in the half-back line, and Andrew Ormond and Jason Forde in the forwards, as could Darragh McCarthy, although it depends on how much the selection committee will count the impact of his two red cards during the championship campaign, despite his 1-13 contribution in the All-Ireland final win over Cork. McCarthy will be up against Tipperary teammate for the Young Hurler of the Year gong along with Limerick’s Adam English.

The other Tipperary players nominated are Michael Breen, Craig Morgan & Bryan O’Mara in defence, as well as Willie Connors in midfield.

Tipperary haven’t had a player selected on a Hurling All-Star team since 2019, their longest ever run without having one.