Rory Maguire nominated for a football All-Star along with four Cork hurlers 

FOUR Cork hurlers have been nominated for PwC All-Stars, while Ciarán Joyce is also in the running for Young Hurler of the Year.

Damien Cahalane, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Patrick Horgan were included in the 45-man list, one more than what the Rebels received in 2022 when Joyce, Fitzgibbon, a winner in 2018, and Robbie O'Flynn were nominated. 

On the football front, Castlehaven's Rory Maguire is the Rebels' sole nominee. The powerful defender caught the eye as John Cleary's side progressed from the Sam Maguire group stages and reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals, beating Mayo and Roscommon along the way before losing to Derry.

Maguire, who posed a scoring threat from deep all campaign, blasted in a brilliant goal at Croke Park.

Cahalane has maintained his excellent form in the Cork club championships with the St Finbarr's hurlers and Castlehaven footballers, with both teams in the semi-finals. Joyce also has two semi-finals to look forward to, with Castlemartyr in the PIHC and the Imokilly division in the PSHC.

Horgan was Cork's last hurling All-Star recipient in 2019, his fourth, as the Rebel county was overlooked in the 2021 All-Stars, despite reaching the All-Ireland final.

Joyce is up against Clare's Adam Hogan and Mark Rogers for Young Hurler of the Year; he was also in contention last season when Eoin Cody won it. Limerick trio Diarmaid Byrnes, Aaron Gillane, Kyle Hayes are vying for the main prize.

The Footballer of the Year contenders are David Clifford, Brian Fenton and Derry's Brendan Rodgers.

This year’s awards ceremony takes place in the RDS on Friday, November 17. The hurling team will be announced the morning before and the football 15 live on RTÉ along with the two codes’ players and young players of the year.

On a proportional representation basis, the players’ body votes from the shortlists for their best hurler and young hurler of the year.

PWC HURLING ALL-STAR NOMINATIONS

GOALKEEPERS 

Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny), Nickie Quaid (Limerick), Éibhear Quilligan (Clare) 

DEFENDERS 

Diarmaid Byrnes, Mike Casey, Kyle Hayes, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash (Limerick); David Blanchfield, Mikey Butler, Paddy Deegan, Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny); John Conlon, Adam Hogan, David McInerney, Diarmuid Ryan (Clare); Daithí Burke, Jack Grealish (Galway), Damien Cahalane, Ciarán Joyce (Cork); Ronan Maher (Tipperary).

MIDFIELDERS 

Darragh O’Donovan, William O’Donoghue (Limerick); Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny); David Fitzgerald (Clare); Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork); Noel McGrath (Tipperary).

FORWARDS 

Peter Casey, Seamus Flanagan, Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey (Limerick); Eoin Cody, TJ Reid (Kilkenny); Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rogers (Clare); Brian Concannon, Cathal Mannion, Evan Niland, Conor Whelan (Galway); Patrick Horgan (Cork); Donal Burke (Dublin); Jake Morris (Tipperary).

Hurler of the Year nominations: Diarmaid Byrnes, Aaron Gillane, Kyle Hayes (all Limerick) 

Young hurler of the year nominations: Adam Hogan (Clare); Mark Rogers (Clare); Ciaran Joyce (Cork).