John Horgan on the hurlers who deserved to be in the All-Star 15

THE ultimate goal of any hurler involved with the leading counties is to end the season with a Celtic Cross on display on the mantlepiece.

If that does not come to pass and it doesn't for the vast majority of players, the next best thing might be getting selected on the All-Stars 15.

Nothing can compare with winning the All-Ireland with your county but All-Star selection has to be viewed as a nice consolation prize.

The All-Stars awards scheme began as far back as 1971 and it has always merited a great deal of debate at a time when the GAA fields across the country are falling silent.

The debate might not be as fierce now as it used to be when there would be outrage in a county if a certain player was not recognised.

In a nutshell, controversy and the All-Stars have often walked hand in hand.

In the past, it has to be said, there have been some hugely controversial decisions in both codes made by those chosen with the selection.

BIZARRE

We could list a fair view but there's no point in going back over old ground but one is well documented back in 1994 when that wonderful Offaly hurler, Brian Whelehan didn't get the nod and a few weeks later he was chosen as the then Texaco Hurler of the Year.

It was simply a mind-boggling decision and it led to some resignations from the All-Stars selection committee.

The vast majority of players who are selected have won an All-Ireland medal that year or were on the losing side in that final.

However, when Cork were well beaten in the 2021 final by Limerick not one player from the county was chosen.

Fast forward to last Friday night when Cork, after again ending up in the losers dressingroom room, received five awards which was a significant return for a county that had no silverware to show for their efforts but were major contributors to the year's enjoyment.

Kilkenny were Leinster champions again this year and after being the dominant county so many times over the years when the 15 players were chosen, this time they ended up with an empty plate which surprised some people.

For a number of players who received a nomination a month earlier a case might be made why they should be chosen.

But it was, is and always will be only 15 and where Cork are concerned this year there has to be plenty of satisfaction.

And as regards the goalkeeper and the choice again of Nicky Quaid, it has to be said that Patrick Collins could not have been that far off selection.

As the year progressed the Ballinhassig player grew in stature and Cork would never have made the final if it wasn't for some of excellent saves that he made. Of course, the standard of goalkeeping in the game has never been as strong as it is now with Quaid, Collins, Eibhear Quilligan and Eoin Murphy all players of the highest quality. 

Another Cork player who had to be in the selection conversation was Brian Hayes who had a terrific campaign and was and will be a key figure in the Cork attack for many years to come.

PILLARS

It's been some few weeks for the Downey brothers, Eoin and Robert, back in the big time in Cork again with the Glen and now joining the band of brothers who have won All-Stars. In an area where Cork still need more stability, both brothers are going to be cornerstones going forward with Robert at the helm as the new captain.

The selection of Darragh Fitzgibbon at midfield will brook absolutely no argument. His qualities are many, particularly his pace and ability to dissect the posts from many distances made him an automatic choice.

Seamie Harnedy continues to prove that age is no barrier and his continuation as a top-class forward goes on and on and again the conversation around his selection must have been short, well deserved again.

The selection of Shane Barrett will compensate for two major losses for his club and county on the big days but he played a significant role in contributing to Cork's participation on final day. He is just one of many players that Pat Ryan will be leaning heavily on next season.

Only three counties, without doubt, the top three in the country, Clare, Cork and Limerick were recognised with the Banner maybe slighly peeved that they did not get more than six awards.

Conor Cleary and Conor Leen must have been very much in the reckoning, perhaps John Conlon (above) too. 

Six is a low enough representation for a county that won the double of the national league and championship.

There will be many in Kilkenny baffled at their failure to figure in the list of the 15 selections, their grieveance being that Cian Kenny and John Donnelly were passed over.

But as somebody said in the aftermath, that snub will be used as fuel in 2025 and whilst they are currently not the force of old, you are always very wary of them.

Limerick as beaten semi-finalists, beaten twice by Cork have to be well satisfied with four awards but the omission of Aaron Gillane has staggered many within and outside the county. Gillane might not have been as prominent as he was in their four-in-a-row years but he was still conspicuous more often than not.

But you can't please all the people all the time and in this All-Stars awards scheme many are chosen but only few are chosen. That's the way it has always been, a loaves and fishes job.

Overall, the selection has to be looked at being as good as it could have been in the circumstances while, at the same time, there is some justification for crticism too.

One thing that cannot be argued though, the three counties that make up the 15, Clare, Cork and Limerick were miles ahead of the chasing pack, the three of them closely bunched together with hardly a puck of a ball between then.

Okay, all three lost twice in the campaign, Clare to Limerick, Limerick to Cork and Cork to Clare in Munster and the All-Ireland final.

They did lose to Waterford too but the manner with which they they put those Munster losses to Waterford and Clare behind them and come so desperately close to winning the All-Ireland was highly admirable.

On the honours list and in the All-Star team selection it's Munster hurling's world, the rest for now just existing in it.

And who knows what the future holds but that could well be the case again next season.