Three Cork hurlers included in our alternative All-Star 15
Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork is tackled by Michael Casey and William O'Donoghue of Limerick. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Any journalist who has ever compiled player ratings knows the inherent flaws and the major public interest.
The duty of evaluating all 30 players, often amid the usual note-taking and typing of match reports, has led to many harsh 6s and generous 8s being doled out. If you’re going to be taken to task over anything, it’s likely to be a flawed player rating.
But in an awards season which can be skewed towards the final month of hurling, those ratings can provide an alternative complexion to the All-Star consensus.
If there is wisdom in crowds, averaging out those ratings across different publications may provide a decent approximation of player performances. For example, most Cork games would’ve been rated by at least four papers for a decent cross-section of opinions, and double that for the All-Ireland final.
Not that the team of the year it generates is any better than the expected All-Star pick – it’s almost certainly not – but it does recognise some overlooked stars. In that spirit, eight different counties are represented on this team, which means a couple less for the All-Ireland finalists.
But having collected the data and run the calculations, it’s too far gone to bin the idea now – even if that’s where this team of the year may be headed.
So, without tinkering with positions too much and all the other caveats about player ratings, here we go…
The Premier stopper only claimed the no.1 jersey after the round-robin defeat to Cork, and his rating rarely dipped across the summer. Standout performances throughout the knockout rounds culminated in his All-Ireland final point and penalty save.
The rookie corner-back lifted his game when faced with red jerseys. A rare bright spark in the round-robin defeat, and the converted forward even scored his first championship point in the final. Also got the game-saving block against Kilkenny.
Man of the Match in the Leinster final to cap an outstanding provincial campaign. A trickier semi-final, but still rated clear of his nearest rivals.
Bounced back from a tough 2024 and raised his game as the year progressed. Received his highest ratings for performances against Waterford and Dublin, where he produced a series of goal-saving interventions.
A consistent Cork performer who combined uncompromising defensive work to limit Cian Lynch in the Munster final with sublime distribution to supply goals against Tipperary and Dublin.
Started the year at centre-forward, but quickly reverted to No. 6. Man of the match against Cork in the round-robin, and though he didn’t replicate that form thereafter, the ratings secured his inclusion.
The long-range shooter scored 0-15 from defence, with almost half from play. Spent the Munster Championship in the full-back line before playing the All-Ireland series in the half-backs.
Cork’s best hurler on player ratings. Found his top form when returned to midfield, with his score-taking and covering earning him man-of-the-match honours in the Munster final.
Won’t get more than an All-Star nomination, but his off-Broadway 2-1 blast in the dead-rubber against Limerick was the midfielder’s star turn. Also scored four from play against Waterford.
A fudge!? Let’s call it a statistical dead heat: 7.83 out of 10 apiece. Ormond arrived on the scene against Clare with two goals and followed it with consecutive man-of-the-match awards. Morris raised more white flags from play than any other hurler this year and caused headaches with his puck-out movement.
That leaves space for Lee Chin, who collected top ratings across all his Leinster appearances. Finished the year with 3-56 to his name, an average of 13 points per game.
Two appearances against Kilkenny yielded 21 points. Mannion added 17 more against Wexford, 13 against Tipperary, and 2-8 in Offaly. With a healthy mix from play, good ratings followed.
The top scorer from play in the Hurling League, Keoghan carried that form into championship. Scored six goals in five Leinster outings, including 2-2 in the final, and 0-6 in the All-Ireland semi.
A goal against Kilkenny and two each against Limerick, Clare, and Cork, where he also won the clinching penalty. The key difference-maker for Tipp in big games. Ended with 7-16, all from play.
We’d have another man in 15, but the average ratings swung it for O’Sullivan, who tied McGrath as the championship’s top scorer from play with 5-22. Exceptional in the semi-final against Cork, firing 2-5, a standout against Kilkenny, and netted against Limerick too.
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