Hurling team of the year: Jamesie O Connor picks his All-Star side for 2020 All-Ireland champions Limerick lead the way with eight inclusions on the side. Beaten finalists Waterford have four, while there are also representatives from Galway, Kilkenny and Clare.
Last Updated: 15/12/20 8:18am Gearóid Hegarty is widely tipped to win Hurler of the Year
Following the conclusion of the 2020 All-Ireland Hurling Championship, Jamesie O Connor selects his team of the year.
1. Stephen O Keeffe (Waterford)
The final performance swung it in O Keeffe s favour, for me. That s probably very harsh on Nickie Quaid. With the way Limerick play, he doesn t get a whole lot to do, akin to a succession of Kilkenny goalkeepers over the years.
THE Limerick players may not get an opportunity to parade the Liam MacCarthy Cup in front of their adoring public between now and the next time ribbons carrying the colours of the competing counties are attached to it and it’s displayed on the Hogan Stand podium on All-Ireland final day.
Adherence to public health guidelines is likely to keep the coveted cup under lock and key for the first few months of the new year and, by then, the work in defending all three titles that they amassed over the last few weeks will have begun again. Once that starts all thoughts of 2020 will quickly fade.
The future is green
25.5 years. That was the average age of the starting XV that won the All-Ireland title for Limerick on Sunday.
That isn’t much lower than the 26.2 of last year’s champions Tipperary but the difference is how many of Limerick’s youngsters are also their key men.
Kyle Hayes is 22 and Seamus Flanagan is 23. Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Sean Finn and Aaron Gillane are all 24.
Hurler of the Year elect Gearóid Hegarty, Diarmaid Byrnes and William O’Donoghue are 26.
Mike Casey and Richie English are both 25 and would have started if not due to injury.
Scenes in Limerick city as fans celebrate All Ireland Hurling final win
Locals have been blasting their horns across the county to express their joy
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Player ratings: Perfect 10 for Gearoid Hegarty as Nickie Quaid cements All-Star
Christy O Connor and Kieran Shannon rate the players involved in the All-Ireland final
Waterford’s Conor Gleeson with Gearoid Hegarty of Limerick: Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Sun, 13 Dec, 2020 - 19:19
Christy O Connor and Kieran Shannon LIMERICK (rated by Christy O Connor) Nickie Quaid: Outstanding. Made a very smart and important save from Neil Montgomery in the 13th minute when spreading himself and made six fine saves over the 70 minutes Puckouts were accurate efficient as usual; Limerick won 19 of their 30 puckouts. Cemented his All-Star. 9 Sean Finn: Gave the ball away cheaply for Jack Fagan’s early goal chance but it was the only glitch. Adhesive all afternoon. Very creative in possession especially when Limerick turned over the ball in their defence. Dessie Hutchinson did win a lot of possession but was restricted to just one point from play. 8