Na Piarsaigh’s Shane Dowling

In the hurling selection, Limerick Champions Na Piarsaigh are understandably the biggest representatives because of their brilliant performance in the All-Ireland final. They hammered Cushendall 2-25 to 2-14 on St Patrick’s day, and as a result have six players on the All-star team.

In the final, they outclassed their Ulster opponents in the early stages. Cushendall ended up chasing the game for the rest of the 60 minutes, and couldn’t catch the Limerick side.

Peter Casey and Shane Dowling were named in the forward line, while Alan Dempsey was chosen at midifeld. Defenders Kieran Breen, Ronan Lynch and Cathal King also made the cut.

It may prove little consolation to Cushendall, but three of their players were named on the All-star team; Arron Graffin in the full back line, Sean Delargy in the half back line and Neil McManus in the half-forward line.

The rest of the team is made up of a mix of Bennettsbridge, Glenmore and Abbeyknockmoy players.

Bennettsbridge’s inclusion is a notable one. They won the All-Ireland Junior Championship last year and received three Gaelic Life All Stars.

This year they were crowned All-Ireland intermediate champions having beaten Abbeyknockmoy of Galway 1-17 to 1-14 in the decider. They have three players in this year’s selection.

The overall Hurler of the Year Award went to Shane Dowling of Na Piarsaigh.