Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid celebrates with supporters after the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Clare and Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
We're quarter of the way through this hurling century so it's perhaps timely to attempt to pick a team of it so far.
The last 25 year has been a golden era for hurling with a stellar cast of players and shoe-horning the best of the best into a 26-man panel was a ridiculously tough task, much less settling on a starting XV.
The competition for places was such that nine of the 25 Hurlers of the Year from 2000 to 2024 didn’t make the cut for the final 26.
Hard calls were made and some players missed out by wafer-thin margins. You might find it easy to think of a player you believe should have been included in the below list but deciding who to drop in their favour will surely give you pause for thought.
1: Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
Nickie Quaid has arguably been the most important player for Limerick during their fun of five All-Ireland titles in the last seven years. His distribution is the best of any goalkeeper we’ve ever seen, and he has a deep catalogue of brilliant saves too.
2: Sean Finn (Limerick)
The four All-Stars in a row he won from 2018 to 2021 testified to Finn’s consistency. His physicality, pace, stickiness, and ability to hurl from the front makes him a nightmare proposition for opposition corner-forwards.
3: Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cork)
‘The Rock’ was the most inspirational figure in the All-Ireland winning Cork teams of 2004 and 2005. The four-time All-Star was a colossus on the edge of the square and his ability to win hard ball and drive out the field with it lifted team-mates and supporters alike.
4: JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
The classiest stickman in this defence, Delaney was such a consummate hurler he was as comfortable in the full-back line as he was the half-back line. A great reader of the game, he had a knack for being in the right place at the right time and his timing made him one of best hookers and blockers the game has seen.
Tommy Walsh, Kilkenny, in action against Eoin Kelly, left, and John O'Brien, Tipperary in the 2011 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, Kilkenny v Tipperary, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE.
5: Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
Very few hurlers have had the ability to raise the decibels in a stadium like Walsh could. The nine-time All-Star was a spectacular hurler who inspired those around him thanks to his ability to win hard ball and then put his team on the front foot by sallying out of defence with it.
6: Declan Hannon (Limerick)
The only player to ever captain a county to four All-Ireland titles, Declan Hannon has been a hugely influential presence at centre-back for Limerick. His ability to read the game sees him hoover up possession and his distribution is excellent.
7: Padraic Maher (Tipperary)
The six-time All-Star was a force of nature in the Tipperary defence during his 13-year inter-county career. Hugely physical and a tremendous hurler, his bursts from defence and ability to take a score made him a Premier county fan favourite.
Tony Kelly of Clare during the 2024 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Clare and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.
8: Tony Kelly (Clare)
Tony Kelly is the greatest Clare hurler of all time. His combination of skill, speed, bravery, and lethal finishing make him something very special. The goal he scored in this year’s All-Ireland Final will forever be remembered as one the best ever to grace the biggest day of all.
9: Cian Lynch (Limerick)
Cian Lynch is another man with magic in his wrist. His skill and vision in tight spaces and make the two time Hurler of the Year a joy to watch.
10: TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Second in the all-time championship top-scorers list, TJ Reid’s ability to win ball and finish clinically makes him one of the greatest forwards in the history of the game. His longevity has been remarkable too.
11: Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)
Henry Shefflin won more All-Stars (11) than any other player and is the only player to be crowned Hurler of the Year on three occasions. A powerful and accurate forward, he was the key cog in the Kilkenny machine that won 10 All-Ireland titles.
Joe Canning of Galway celebrates scoring the winning point during the 2017 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Galway and Tipperary at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
12: Joe Canning (Galway)
Third on the all-time championship top scorer list, Canning was a unique combination of athleticism and pure skill. He had a flair for the spectacular that few players have come close to.
13: Patrick Horgan (Cork)
Patrick Horgan is the most prolific scorer in the history of championship hurling, a feat all the more laudable considering the Rebels haven’t won an All-Ireland title during his 17 years as an inter-county hurler. His ability to snipe points from tight angles is something special.
14: Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
Seamus Callanan scored 40 championship goals, a feat only better by Wexford legend Nickey Rackard. Incredibly skilful for such a big man and a lethal finisher.
15: Eoin Kelly (Tipperary)
Kelly’s ability to make space for a score when none seemed available was unrivalled. Both skilful and physically powerful, if he got the ball in his hand it usually ended in a score.
Eoin Kelly, Tipperary, shoots to score his side's second goal despite the efforts of Brian Murphy, Cork, in the 2011 Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, Quarter-Final, Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
16: Brendan Cummins (Tipperary)
Five-time All-Star Brendan Cummins was one of the greatest shot-stoppers in the history of the game.
17: Barry Nash (Limerick)
Barry Nash has redefined the corner-back position thanks to his distribution and ability to join the attack.
18: Ollie Canning (Galway)
Ollie Canning was the prototype modern corner-back who was skilful enough to hurl his man from the front and create as well as destroy.
19: Daithi Burke (Galway)
Five-time All-Star Daithi Burke has been the best full-back of his era. Ferociously strong in the tackle and a brilliant ball-winner.
Waterford's Ken McGrath celebrates at the final whistle. Guinness Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final, Cork v Waterford, Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE.
20: Ken McGrath (Waterford)
Unlucky not to make the starting XV at centre-back, McGrath in his pomp was as swashbuckling defender who lifted the crowd with his ability to win ball and put his team on the front foot.
21: Sean Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork)
Sean Óg hAilpín was an absolute specimen of an athlete and a nightmare for opposition half-forward thanks to his man-marking instincts.
22: Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny)
The 2011 Hurler of the Year was a monster of a midfielder in his pomp, combining huge physicality with a great hurling brain.
23: Lee Chin (Wexford)
There’s very little Lee Chin can’t do on a hurling field. A very physically powerful ball-winner and clinical finisher.
24: Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
The four-time All-Star and 2020 Hurler of the Year is a unique mixture of size and skill who’s unstoppable when at full throttle
25: Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Richie Hogan made the game look easy thanks to the magic in his wrists. His skill was complemented by a ferocious will to win.
26: Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
Limerick’s best forward during their era of dominance, Gillane’s ball-winning ability and clinical finishing make him a nightmare to mark for defenders.