Tipperary win 7 Hurling All-Star awards

Congrats to the 7 Tipperary players who have received Hurling All-Stars for their 2016 performances – Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill) No. 2, James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane) No. 3, Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) No. 6, Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) No. 7, Patrick “Bonner” Maher (Lorrha) No. 12, Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) No. 14, John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) No. 15.

Here it is – do you agree with the 2016 Hurling All Stars selection? #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/h3jkIR2FQH

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 4, 2016

GAA GPA All-Stars sponsored by Opel
2016 Hurling Selection

HISTORIC NIGHT FOR GLEESON AND KEEGAN AS TIPPERARY DOMINATE HURLING ALL-STARS

It was an historic night for Waterford starlet Austin Gleeson and Mayo’s Lee Keegan at the GAA/GPA All-Stars awards banquet in conjunction with Opel, which was held on Friday night in Dublin’s Convention Centre.

Mount Sion 21-year-old Gleeson celebrated a clean sweep at the black tie gala event that saw him crowned GAA/GPA Opel All-Stars Hurler of the Year, Young Hurler of the Year as well as being selected at centre forward on the All-Star Hurling team for 2016.

It is only the second time in history that the Player of the Year awards have been captured by the same man and Gleeson emulates Clare hero Tony Kelly who was crowned Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year in 2013. The Player and Young Player of the Year awards were voted on exclusively by inter-county players.

Meanwhile, there was more joy for Mayo football on the night when it was unveiled that as well as the four awards amassed on the GAA/GPA Opel All-Stars Football team for 2016, that the county have carried off the Player of the Year award via Westport’s Lee Keegan and Young Player of the Year prize for Diarmuid O’Connor.

Ballintubber forward O’Connor follows his older brother Cillian, who won back to back Young Player of the Year awards in 2011 and 2012. The 2016 GAA/GPA All-Stars Hurling team in conjunction with Opel was announced live on the night with All-Ireland champions Tipperary being awarded seven prestigious awards.

There are four counties in all represented with Leinster champions and All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny receiving four, while Galway and Waterford both received two awards from the initial list of 45 nominees.

Powerful Premier wing back Pádraic Maher collects his fourth All-Star having been named at left half back alongside his younger brother Ronan who collected his first.

It’s the first time that two brothers have been honoured as Hurling All-Stars in the same year since Ollie and Joe Canning from Portumna in Galway were named on the 2009 selection.

The half back line is completed by first time recipient Pádraig Walsh from Kilkenny who follows in the footsteps of his older brother Tommy – who himself amassed an incredible nine All-Stars over the course of his illustrious career.

In attack, Tipperary’s John McGrath is one of nine first time All-Stars recipients and emulates his older brother Noel, who is a two-time All-Star.

Uachtarán CLG Aogán Ó Fearghail said: “This great game of hurling which is unique to us as a people helps us keep in touch with the heroes and warriors of our past – and I want to sincerely congratulate the modern day heroes who have been announced as GAA/GPA All-Stars for 2016.

“Yet again it is a selection of the very highest calibre and as they enter the history books as prestigious holders of this coveted award it is a tribute to their families who stood behind them and also their Clubs who helped mould them into the players they have become.

“Our sincerest thanks to Opel for their continuing partnership with this most distinguished of awards schemes and my congratulations to Lee, Diarmuid and Austin for their overall awards – a recognition that carries the added significance of having been decided upon by their peers.”

Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players’ Association, added: “Congratulations to the Opel GAA/GPA Hurling All-Stars for 2016 and to Lee and Austin on being recognised by the GPA membership as the outstanding individual players this season. Congratulations also to Young Players of the Year Diarmuid O’Connor and Austin, remarkable achievements both for the O’Connor family and for Austin in landing both awards this year. Thanks to all the inter-county hurlers who contributed so handsomely to the 2016 season and to all the players who voted for the Players of the Year and to our loyal sponsors Opel who have given wonderful support to the All-Stars Awards Scheme.”

Commenting on the announcement, Dave Sheeran, Managing Director Opel Ireland said: “With some fantastic moments over the course of the senior hurling champion season, it is no surprise to see eventual winners Tipperary dominating the shortlist this year. I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate this year’s Opel Players of the Year and Young Players of the Year, who tonight are being honoured by their peers for their commanding contributions to the season.”

GAA/GPA All-Stars
Iomáint 2016

Goalkeeper
1 Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) First time winner

Defenders
2 Cathal Barrett (Tipperary) First time winner
3 James Barry (Tipperary First time winner
4 Daithí Burke (Galway) Second-time award
5 Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny) First-time award
6 Ronan Maher (Tipperary) First-time award
7 Pádraic Maher (Tipperary) Fourth-time award

Midfielders
8 Jamie Barron (Waterford) First-time award
9 David Burke (Galway) Third-Time award

Forwards
10 Walter Walsh (Kilkenny) First-time award
11 Austin Gleeson (Waterford) First-time award
12 Patrick Bonner Maher (Tipperary) Second-time award
13 Richie Hogan (Kilkenny) Fourth-time award
14 Séamus Callanan (Tipperary) Third-time award
15 John McGrath (Tipperary) First-time award

The GAA, GPA and Opel have announced the nominations for the 2016 All-Star hurling awards with the All-Ireland champions Tipperary receiving 15 nominations.

In addition, Seamus Callanan and Pádraic Maher have been nominated for for Hurler of the Year. The candidates for Young Player of the Year are Tipperary’s Ronan Maher and Waterford’s Austin Gleeson and Shane Bennett.

The 15 Tipperary players nominated for an All-Star are Darren Gleeson (Portroe), Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill), James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Seamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Pádraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Michael Breen (Ballina), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) and John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney). Congratulations to all.

As in football, there are eight different counties represented on the distinguished list of 45 players who have been chosen, and from which the prestigious final 15 will be announced live at a banquet in Dublin’s Convention Centre on Friday, November 4.

The breakdown of nominees is as follows: Tipperary (15); Waterford (9); Kilkenny (8); Galway (6); Clare (3); Wexford (2); Limerick (1), Cork (1).

The full list of players nominated is included below –

Goalkeepers

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
2. Darren Gleeson (Tipperary)
3. Colm Callanan (Galway)

Defenders

1. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
2. James Barry (Tipperary)
3. Daithí Burke (Galway)
4. Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford)
5. Shane Fives (Waterford)
6. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)
7. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
8. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
9. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
10. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
11. Michael Cahill (Tipperary)
12. Séamus Kennedy (Tipperary)
13. Diarmuid Byrnes (Limerick)
14. Noel Connors (Waterford)
15. Philip Mahony (Waterford)
16. Cian Dillon (Clare)
17. Pádraig Mannion (Galway)
18. Matthew O’Hanlon (Wexford)

Midfielders

1. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
2. David Burke (Galway)
3. Michael Breen (Tipperary)
4. Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny)
5. Brendan Maher (Tipperary)
6. Kevin Moran (Waterford)

Forwards

1. Séamus Callanan (Tipperary)
2. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
3. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
4. Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
5. Pauric Mahony (Waterford)
6. John McGrath (Tipperary)
7. Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
8. John O’Dwyer (Tipperary)
9. Walter Walsh (Kilkenny)
10. Conor Cooney (Galway)
11. Tony Kelly (Clare)
12. Dan McCormack (Tipperary)
13. Joe Canning (Galway)
14. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
15. Michael Walsh (Waterford)
16. Lee Chin (Wexford)
17. Colm Galvin (Clare)
18. Alan Cadogan (Cork)