Cork's Downey brothers make history with All-Star awards while Shane O'Donnell named top hurler

The Glen Rovers’ Downeys follow in the footsteps of Ben and Jerry O’Connor in 2005. Emulating the deeds of the Morrisseys, Dan and Tom, of Limerick (2020, ’23) and the Mahers, Pádraic and Ronan, of Tipperary (2016, ’19), the Downeys were also two of five first-time winners. Their Cork team-mate Shane Barrett and Clare’s Hogan and Mark Rodgers were the other three.

Cork’s return of five, which included previous winners Darragh Fitzgibbon (2018) and Seamus Harnedy (2013, ’18), was their biggest representation in the team since their six when they were last champions in 2005, surpassing their previous totals as runners-up since then - four in '06, three in '13 and none in '23.

Clare’s half a dozen was two short of their haul in 2013 as, like this year, they overcame Cork to claim the All-Ireland SHC title. Akin to Harnedy, David McInerney, collecting his second All-Star, and Tony Kelly, adding his fifth (2013, ’20, ’21, ’22), were acknowledged 11 years on from that success.

They were deserving recipients as were Hogan, David Fitzgerald earning his second (2022), the outstanding O’Donnell being presented with his third (2022, ’23) and last year’s young hurler of the year Rodgers.

Clare corner-back Conor Leen was unfortunate to miss out on one but Dan Morrissey’s resilience in the full-back could hardly be ignored as he along with three others of Limerick’s Munster winning team were included.

As was the case for fellow hurler of the year nominee Fitzgibbon, Hayes was a certainty for inclusion and Nickie Quaid’s abundance of saves and puck-out quality put him far ahead of the competition.

For his dazzling displays in the Munster championship, Hegarty was included in the full-forward line where he tormented Clare and Cork. The 2020 hurler of the year won his fourth All-Star (2018, ’20, ’21), Quaid his third (2020, ’22), Dan Morrissey his fourth (2018, ’20, ’23) and Hayes his fifth consecutive, his first coming in 2020.

St Finbarrs’ Brian Hayes can also count himself unlucky not to be among the 15 when he and Harnedy were arguably Cork’s best forwards across the All-Ireland semi-final and finals. But there was no doubt about the selection of Barrett who was excellent in guiding the team to Croke Park.

Kilkenny had healthy shouts for All-Stars in David Blanchfield, Cian Kenny and recent county senior championship winner John Donnelly but it is the first time in seven years that they don’t have a player acknowledged in the 15.

The all-Munster team may raise an eyebrow or two but Eoin Murphy in 2021 was the only award winner outside the province when Limerick picked up 12 and Clare and Waterford each had one.

Of last year’s 15, there were just three repeat award winners – Morrissey, Hayes and O’Donnell. Clare’s six is the lowest number of All-Stars for All-Ireland winners since Limerick’s in 2018. Having not had a nomination, Tipperary have now gone five years since their last All-Ireland win without an All-Star, their worst run in the history of the initiative which began in 1971.

Following Rodgers last year and Kelly in 2013, Feakle’s senior county title-winning Hogan completed a remarkable week in becoming Clare’s third-ever young hurler of the year recipient. He was selected by his peers ahead of fellow All-Star full-back Eoin Downey and Limerick’s Cathal O’Neill.

Meanwhile, after David Clifford last year, Galway midfielder Paul Conroy became the second successive player to win footballer of the year not to hail from the All-Ireland winning team. Conroy won the players’ vote ahead of team-mate John Maher and Armagh’s Barry McCambridge.

There was some consolation for All-Ireland champions Armagh as All-Star winner Oisín Conaty was awarded the young footballer of the year gong ahead of fellow All-Star Johnny McGrath of Galway and Donegal’s Ciarán Moore.