Setanta hurling All-Stars

[GalwayBayBoy]

To provoke some discussion. Agree or disagree?

Setanta Hurling Team of the Year

The curtain fell on another year of championship hurling on Sunday, so
we at Setanta Sports have put our heads together and come up with our
very own team of the year.


Donal Og Cusack [Cork] - Picked the Rebels off the floor when they were
struggling against Dublin down in Pairc Ui Chaoimh with two brilliant
saves. Got sent off against Galway, but delivered a rousing Pacino-esque
half-time speech to the Cork players that surely kept them in the
championship this year. Inspirational.

Michael Kavanagh [Kilkenny] - Scarcely needs justification, but his
All-Ireland final display against Waterford buttressed claims that he is
one of the best defenders of the modern era. Just 29, the quiet man of
Kilkenny hurling has already amassed six All-Ireland medals. Amazing.

Noel Hickey [Kilkenny] - The rock upon which this brilliant team has
been built. The Graigue Ballycallan man is a colossus, his ability to
dominate the square the main reason why the Cats conceded just one goal
in the championship this year. Destroyed Joe Deane in the semi-final and
gave Eoin Kelly a roasting in the final too.

Jackie Tyrrell [Kilkenny] - Tempted to give the award to Shane O'Neill
from Cork just to break the Kilkenny hegemony. However, Tyrrell's
ability to play just about anywhere should not detract from the fact
that he is a tough nut to crack in the corner of a much-vaunted defence.


Tommy Walsh [Kilkenny] - No contest. Tommy is one of the greatest
wing-backs of his - or any - generation. He's a force of nature that
shows no sign of wilting as he enters the midpoint of a stunning career.
Superb under the high ball, Walsh is also an incredible man-marker. He
ate Seamus Prendergast without salt on Sunday, and gave Cork's Pa Cronin
a lesson in the semi. Tommy will take on all comers and come back
looking for more.

Conor O'Mahony [Tipperary] - Has established himself as the best
Tipperary centre-back since the great Bobby Ryan. Has fantastic hands
and commands the position brilliantly. Shone against Cork and Clare and
takes a spot in our team ahead of Kilkenny's Brian Hogan.

JJ Delaney [Kilkenny] - The 2003 Hurler of the Year may not have hit the
same dizzy heights this year, but was again impressive in a brilliant
defensive unit. Commanded the high ball in the final and was quietly
effective throughout the championship.

Shane McGrath [Tipperary] - A relative latecomer to the inter-county
scene, McGrath was a phenomenon this year for Tipp in just his second
season at this level. McGrath established himself in Liam Sheedy's plans
with an eye-catching league campaign, before brilliant displays against
Cork and Clare in Munster saw him achieve universal acclaim. His ability
to run at defenders, eye for a score and boundless energy give him the
nod ahead of Derek Lyng.

James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick [Kilkenny] - If you gathered a group of genetic
scientists and locked them in a room for a week charged with the task of
coming up with the prototype for the perfect hurler, they wouldn't make
someone as good as 'Cha'. The guy simply has no flaws. For a relatively
small man, he dominates the middle of the park, chips in with a few
points and generally hurls with grace and freedom.

Henry Shefflin [Kilkenny] - Do we really need to justify his inclusion?
Though not. Finished the season with 38 points.

Seamus Callinan [Tipperary] - Liam Sheedy has unearthed some fresh
talent since taking over the Tipperary reins and Callinan is probably
the perfect example of this. The Drom clubman has been in devastating
form all year and he showed the capacity to be profligate in front of
goals in the closing stages of the Munster final victory over Clare. PS.
Callinan scored a point in the recent Tipperary Mid-Championship final
against near neighbours Thurles Sarsfields that 'had to be seen to be
believed'!

Eoin Larkin [Kilkenny] - Has had a fantastic season for the Cats;
whether he is on the '40 or in the full-forward line, Larkin is a
constant threat and a joy to watch. Cemented his place in the team with
1-4 in the final, but was also brilliant against Cork and Wexford.

Eddie Brennan [Kilkenny] - 'Fast' Eddie has that rare ability to flit in
and out of games. When he decides to peek his head above the parapet,
the Cats' attacker is deadly. Two goals in as many minutes against
Waterford were further enhanced by four points. Man of the match on
Sunday, but also shone against Wexford with a similar two-goal salvo.

Joe Canning [Galway] - A hurling genius at just 19 years of age. Canning
is one of those players with the rare ability to transcend the ancient
game. People in the know reckon he could be one of the greatest players
to pick up a stick. So much was made of his arrival on the inter-county
scene, and, amazingly, he delivered. His one-man show against Cork will
live in the memory forever, while his 4-27 season-ending total says it
all.

John Mullane [Waterford] - Controversially, we have opted to leave Eoin
Kelly - the championship's top scorer - out of our selection. Why?
Simply, Mullane demanded inclusion. Love him or loathe him, Mullane was
immense for the Deise this year. Never gave up in the game against Clare
- something that cannot be said of some of his team-mates. Kept going
until the end in the final too, scoring three points in the end in a
game that had become an exercise in damage limitation.

Honourable mentions: Eoin Kelly [Waterford], Joe Bergin [Offaly], Derek
Lyng [Kilkenny], Tom Kenny [Cork], Shane O'Neill [Cork], Ben O'Connor
[Cork] David Franks [Offaly], Eoin McGrath [Waterford], David
O'Callaghan [Dublin], Colin Lynch [Clare], Eoin Quigley [Wexford].

[gallsman]

Setanta clearly know f**k all. Noel Hickey, whilst deserving an All-Star only played two games, so he's not the main reason they only conceded a solitary goal. Also, he's from Dunamaggin. JJ Delaney didn't hit the heights??

[dodo]

Henry Shefflin [Kilkenny] - Do we really need to justify his inclusion?
Though not. Finished the season with 38 points.

Yes you do you lazy c*&ts. Most of them 38 points were frees. Now get back to me with a proper explanation why the King deserves such a prestigious award such as a Setanta All-Star.

[youngfella]

King henry has to be on that team what a comeback to make. Most his scores were from frees, I wouldnt fancied hitting them, the pressure. Ok what about the way this hounded the defence off the other teams and fired up his lads. Not to mention his skill and touch, he's unreal.

[slow corner back]

Whiole Tommy Walsh was busy eating Pa Cronin in the semi Henry was doing something similar to Sean Og , althouigh in fairness Sean Og takes more eating. Eoin Kelly of Waterford and Shane O Neill of Cork unlucky to miss out. Donal Og does not deserve one for getting himself sent off, complete stupidity and could easily have cost his team the game. PJ Ryan , four games in the championship no goals conceded and good puck outs, what more can a guy do.

[EddieMerx]

Seamus Callinan and Donal Og Cusack....... How in the name of God did these make the team??? Callinan is yet another overhyped Tipp player

[homeofhurling8]

Seamus Callinan and Donal Og Cusack....... How in the name of God did these make the team??? Callinan is yet another overhyped Tipp player

Seamus Callinan scored 2-08 from play this year in his debut season,scoring 0-3 off Ronan Curran and 1-02 off Ken mcGrath commonly considered the two best centre half backs in the country,Seamus is 20 today,compare and contrast his stats with the best hurler in the country,Henry Shefflin,who scored 7 points from play this year having played one game more than Seamus.

I doubt Callinan will get an all star this year but "overhyped" isn't a word most hurling people would use about him.

[orangeman]

Seamus Callinan and Donal Og Cusack....... How in the name of God did these make the team??? Callinan is yet another overhyped Tipp player

I'd agree that Callinan is a great player and will probably get Young Player of the year as opposed to getting an All Star - I honestly can't see how you leave the top scorer in the championship out of the team !

[Roashter]

This is probably one of the easiest years to pick an all-star team, but as always you can never have 100% agreement.

How you can pick Donal Og is beyond me. He managed to get himself sent off against Galway and was quite poor with the 2 goals Clare scored against him. Just because he gave a good speech at half time does not merit an all-star. Would have picked PJ Ryan here.

Full & Half back lines I am in agreement with. (Ronan Curran came close though)

Possibly could have gone with Derek Lynge in midfield, but I don't really have any complaints against Fitzpatrick or McGrath.

Eoin Larkin is a shoe in (+ a favourite for player of year). Seamus Callinan is justified and I'm not too sure if I'd have picked Shefflin ahead of Ben O'Connor. O'Connor was outstanding all year for Cork and was the main reason they beat Galway & Clare when the chips were down and he also had a good game against Kilkenny. Then again, Shefflin was impeccable as ever from frees and his overall awareness and contribution is immense so it would be difficult to leave him off.

Glad that you included John Mullane instead of Eoin Kelly. Mullane had an excellent year and was consistantly good in ALL of Waterfords games. Why a lot of experts have chosen Eoin Kelly ahead of him I don't know. Kelly was "apparently injured" for the Clare game, and from play was no where near as effective as Mullane and was really shown up in the final when he was tried in a number of positions. Brennan & Canning were automatics for the other 2 slots.

[thejuice]

RTE would have put Brian Cody in.

Its about right but Donal Óg Im not so sure about.

[Asal Mor]

I'd agree with most of that Team. I'd put PJ Ryan in ahead of Cusack and Ben O Connor in for Callanan. Ryan did not let in a goal in 4 games in what was a very mediocre year for keepers. The reasoning for Cusack's selection is very strange. Getting yourself sent off before half time and then making a good speech at the break is not a good day at the office.
Selecting Ryan makes it 10 Kilkenny players but given the level of their performances and how far ahead of the rest they were, thats not too many.

[orangeman]

I'd agree with most of that Team. I'd put PJ Ryan in ahead of Cusack and Ben O Connor in for Callanan. Ryan did not let in a goal in 4 games in what was a very mediocre year for keepers. The reasoning for Cusack's selection is very strange. Getting yourself sent off before half time and then making a good speech at the break is not a good day at the office.Selecting Ryan makes it 10 Kilkenny players but given the level of their performances and how far ahead of the rest they were, thats not too many.

I'd probably agree with you there Asal - Cummins had a decent year as well in front of tougher opposition an deserves a mention ahead of Cusack in my book.

[INDIANA]

nice to see dotsy o callagahan get a mention. ben o connor should be in the half forwards.

[orangeman]

nice to see dotsy o callagahan get a mention. ben o connor should be in the half forwards.

Ben O'Connor had a good year alright but probably will be squeezed out by this all conquering KK forward line.

[youngfella]

Eoin kelly didnt get one, he was top scorer by miles and miles