IN THE wake of Limerick’s stunning completion of a record-equalling four All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles on the trot, with a memorable 0-30 to 2-15 defeat of Kilkenny, The Sunday Game panel of RTÉ revealed their Team of the Year.
It included the entire half-back-line of Limerick, namely Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue and Kyle Hayes, who was chosen as the pundits’ Player of 2023.
RTÉ declared: “Making it a clean sweep of the half-back positions for the four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions is the big man from Kildimo-Pallaskenry. The second half of the final displayed all that is brilliant about the former half-forward. Devastatingly dominant under the high ball, destructive in the tackle and almost untouchable in possession. His consistency all season has seen him named Hurler of the Year by the panel of Sunday Game analysts.”
Also on the short-list were Dan Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, Tom Morrissey and Aaron Gillane.
Not his customary razor sharp in the decider, Gillane still contributed five points, including two from play. However, all season the towering Patrickswell ace has been immense, best illustrated by his awesome display in the Munster Final win over Clare at the Gaelic Grounds.
The team normally resembles the All-Star Selection, which will be announced much later in the year.
Peter Casey was voted RTÉ Man-of-the-Match, courtesy of his five sublime closing-half points. “Mad to say it about a team that have been so dominant for so long, but Limerick did miss his class during his lengthy injury lay-off,” noted RTÉ’s Online Sports Editor Mikey Stafford.
Team-of-the-Year: Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny); Mikey Butler (Kilkenny), Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny), Dan Morrissey (Limerick); Byrnes (Limerick), O’Donoghue (Limerick), Hayes (Limerick); Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick), David Fitzgerald (Clare); Tom Morrissey (Limerick), TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Shane O’Donnell (Clare); Aaron Gillane (Limerick), Conor Whelan (Galway), Eoin Cody (Kilkenny).
