Cork's Brian Hayes in contention for hurler of the year as All-Star nominations are revealed

Cork’s Brian Hayes has been nominated for the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of The Year Award as well as being included as one of 11 Rebel nominees for All-Star Awards.

The full list of 45 candidates for selection on the team was revealed on Thursday morning, with All-Ireland champions Tipperary having 13 nominees for the team as well as two each for the hurler and young hurler awards. In total, seven different counties have received representation.

Aside from Hayes, fellow Cork attackers Alan Connolly, Shane Barrett and Patrick Horgan have received recognition, while goalkeeper Patrick Collins is on the shortlist, too.

Backs Seán O’Donoghue, Niall O’Leary, Mark Coleman and Ciarán Joyce are in the mix for selection too, along with midfield pairing Darragh Fitzgibbon and Tim O’Mahony.

Of the five Cork players picked on last year’s team, Fitzgibbon and Barrett are in line for a second consecutive selection.

St Finbarr’s man Hayes – a nominee last year and unlucky not to make the team – scored 10-17 across 14 league and championship matches as Cork ended a 27-year wait for the league title and also claimed Munster SHC honours. He is up against Tipperary pair Jake Morris and John McGrath for the Hurler of The Year Award.

The Young Hurler of The Year gong will be between two more Tipp players, Darragh McCarthy and Robert Doyle, and Limerick’s Adam English.

The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, November 7.

Hurling All-Star nominees – Goalkeepers: Rhys Shelly (Tipperary), Patrick Collins (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick); Backs: Eoghan Connolly, Ronan Maher, Robert Doyle, Michael Breen, Bryan O’Meara, Craig Morgan (all Tipperary), Seán O’Donoghue, Niall O’Leary, Mark Coleman, Ciarán Joyce (all Cork), Mike Casey, Kyle Hayes, Dan Morrissey (all Limerick), Huw Lawlor, Mikey Carey (both Kilkenny), Conor Burke, John Bellew (both Dublin), Mark Fitzgerald (Waterford); Midfielders: Willie Connors (Tipperary), Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O’Mahony (both Cork), Adam English (Limerick), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Cian Kenny (Kilkenny); Forwards: Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Darragh McCarthy, Jason Forde, John McGrath (all Tipperary), Shane Barrett, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes, Patrick Horgan (all Cork), Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch (both Limerick), Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid (all Kilkenny), Cian O’Sullivan, Seán Currie (both Dublin), Lee Chin (Wexford), Stephen Bennett (Waterford).

Hurler of The Year nominees: John McGrath, Jake Morris (both Tipperary), Brian Hayes (Cork); Young Hurler of The Year nominees: Darragh McCarthy, Robert Doyle (both Tipperary), Adam English (Limerick).