By John Harrington
There was no shortage of memorable moments in a 2022 hurling season that packed a lot of drama into a condensed time-frame.
Here, in no particular order, are ten of the best.
TJ Reid of Ballyhale Shamrocks shoots to score his side's second goal during the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final match between St Thomas, Galway and Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary.
TJ Reid’s goal for Ballyhale Shamrocks v St. Thomas’ in the AIB All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-final
TJ Reid has produced countless moments of heroism for both club and county, but even by his lofty standards the goal he scored to claim victory for Ballyhale Shamrocks over St. Thomas in the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final in January was something special. Four minutes into injury-time he stood over a free 20 yards out and to the right of the goal-posts and somehow blasted it through a thick knot of St. Thomas’ defenders to the back of the net.
Harry Ruddle of Ballygunner, left, who scored the winning goal in injury-time celebrates with teammate Barry Coughlan after their side's victory in the 2022 AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Ballygunner, Waterford, and Shamrocks, Kilkenny, at Croke Park in Dublin.
Harry Ruddle’s goal for Ballygunner in the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Final
Ruddle’s winning goal for Ballygunner in the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Final against Ballyhale Shamrocks was hugely dramatic. The Waterford club trailed by two points in the third and final minute of injury-time when Ruddle picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and soloed to within 25 yards of the goal before sending a cracking drive to the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Damien Reck of Wexford is congratulated by supporters after the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Kilkenny and Wexford at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny.
Damien Reck’s goal-line save from TJ Reid in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Leading by three points with just two minutes to go, Damien Reck’s spectacular goal-line save from a TJ Reid shot was a crucial moment in Wexford’s Leinster SHC victory over Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. He dived full-length to stop Reid’s ground-strike and then was cool enough to rise the ball into his hand while he still lay on the ground before winning a free-out.
Cian Lynch scores a point from his knees in Limerick's Munster SHC victory over Cork.
Cian Lynch’s point on his knees for Limerick v Cork in the Munster SHC
Cian Lynch produced a brilliant moment of wristy hurling in the second half of Limerick’s Munster SHC victory over Cork when he was felled by a Ciaran Joyce tackle but still somehow managed to strike the ball over the bar while in a kneeling position on the ground.
Tony Kelly of Clare scores a point despite the best efforts of William O'Donoghue of Limerick during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final match between Limerick and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary.
Tony Kelly’s first-half point for Clare v Limerick in the Munster SHC Final
Tony Kelly’s point that put Clare 0-5 to 0-4 ahead against Limerick in the Munster SHC Final was spectacular. He displayed great work ethic to chase down and hook Gearoid Hegarty and then galloped forward with the ball and side-stepped Diarmaid Byrne before striking a beauty of a shot between the posts from off his hurley while soloing at full pace.
Gearoid Hegarty of Limerick look as his 27th minute shot hits the back of the Clare goal during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final match between Limerick and Clare at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary.
Gearoid Hegarty’s goal for Limerick v Clare in the Munster SHC Final
Gearoid Hegarty’s goal in the Munster SHC Final against Clare was a thing of beauty. Running onto a pass from Tom Morrissey he controlled the ball on his hurley and then flicked it over the head of Clare defender Diarmuid Ryan before catching it and driving it to the back of the net.
Tony Kelly of Clare scores a point from a sideline cut, with the last score of the second half to equalise and send the match to extra-time, during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final match between Limerick and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary.
Tony Kelly’s sideline cut for Clare v Limerick in the Munster SHC Final
With the three minutes of injury time up in the Munster SHC Final Clare trailed by a point. Enter Tony Kelly who brought the game to extra-time by brilliantly converting a sideline cut from what seemed an impossibly tight angle.
Nickie Quaid of Limerick is beaten by a shot by Brian Concannon of Galway, right, for Galway's first goal during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Limerick and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin.
Brian Concannon’s goal for Galway against Limerick in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Brian Concannon’s goal for Galway against Limerick in the All-Ireland SHC Final was a cracking score. He rose high to catch the ball above Mike Casey and in the same movement swivelled onto his left side and lashed a rocket of a shot to the roof of the net.
Paddy McCormack of Tipperary with the Electric Ireland Best & Fairest Award after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Final match between Tipperary and Offaly at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.
Tipperary minor hurlers snatch All-Ireland minor title from Offaly’s grasp with late goal
Tipperary won the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final in dramatic fashion when Paddy McCormack scored a goal deep in injury-time to break Offaly hearts. It was a really well-worked score too as he rose high to double Paddy Phelan’s perfectly weighted free to the back of the net.
Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin.
Gearoid Hegarty’s goal for Limerick v Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC Final
Hegarty’s goal in the fourth minute of the All-Ireland SHC Final was spectacular. He showed great skill first of all to flick the ball into his hand while running at full pace and then drove a thunderbolt of a shot to the top corner of Eoin Murphy’s net.
