Deserved nomination for Kearney as seven Rebels make the All-Star shortlist

CORK’S retention of the Munster title and their narrow defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final by Limerick is reflected in the list of nominations for this year’s All-Stars.

Seven of John Meyler’s team have received nominations and they are third in the list behind All-Ireland champions Limerick who have all 15 in contention and runners-up Galway who have nine.

The Cork players who have been nominated are goalkeeper Anthony Nash, defenders Colm Spillane and Mark Coleman, midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon and forwards Danny Kearney, Seamus Harnedy, and Patrick Horgan.

In the Young Hurler of the Year category, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Mark Coleman have been nominated in a list of three alongside Limerick’s Kyle Hayes.

Realistically, when the chosen 15 are announced, Cork can expect no more than two awards with Darragh Fitzgibbon and Seamus Harnedy the front-runners and Daniel Kearney as an outside bet.

The Charleville club man Fitzgibbon is the front-runner for the Young Hurler of the Year award.

The bulk of the awards will be taken by the All-Ireland final participants Limerick and Galway with the new champions confidently expected to receive six or seven.

The goalkeeping position is almost certainly going to be won by Kilkenny’s Eoin Murphy over Nash and Nicky Quaid.

In all, eight of the 10 counties that participated in the provincial and All-Ireland series have received nominations with Waterford and Offaly the exceptions. Tipperary have received just one nomination with Jason Forde getting the nod but he is not expected to feature in the chosen 15.

GOALKEEPERS:

Anthony Nash, Cork, Eoin Murphy, Kilkenny, Nicky Quaid, Limerick.

DEFENDERS: Mark Coleman, Cork, Colm Spillane, Cork, David McInerney, Clare, Chris Crummey, Dublin, Dáithí Burke, Galway, Adrian Tuohy Galway, Aidan Harte, Galway, Padraic Mannion, Galway, Cillian Buckley, Kilkenny, Padraig Walsh, Kilkenny, Sean Finn, Limerick, Mike Casey, Limerick Richie English, Limerick, Diarmuid Byrnes Limerick, Declan Hannon, Limerick. Dan Morrissey, Limerick, Paudie Foley, Wexford, Liam Ryan, Wexford.

MIDFIELDERS:

Colm Galvin, Clare, Darragh Fitzgibbon Cork, David Burke, Galway, James Maher, Kilkenny, Cian Lynch, Limerick, Darragh O’Donovan, Limerick.

FORWARDS:

Peter Duggan, Clare, John Conlon, Clare, Shane O’Donnell, Clare, Daniel Kearney, Cork, Seamus Harnedy, Cork, Pat Horgan, Cork, Joe Canning, Galway, Conor Whelan, Galway, Cathal Mannion, Galway, Jonathan Glynn, Galway, TJ Reid, Kilkenny, Kyle Hayes, Limerick, Gearoid Hegarty, Limerick, Tom Morrissey, Limerick, Aaron Gillane, Limerick, Seamus Flanagan, Limerick, Graeme Mulcahy, Limerick, Jason Forde, Tipperary.

PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year: Joe Canning, Galway, Padraic Mannion, Galway, Cian Lynch.

Limerick GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year: Darragh Fitzgibbon, Cork, Kyle Hayes, Limerick, Mark Coleman, Cork.