Cathal Malone the only member of Clare team left out of 2024 All-Star hurling shortlist

Brian Lohan’s side nearly completed the clean sweep of nominations with midfielder Cathal Malone just nudged out in midfield, where Clare skipper Tony Kelly bids to cap his All-Ireland final heroics by adding a fifth All-Star.

Should the Ballyea ace do so, he would become the most decorated Clare player in All-Star history – surpassing Lohan and Jamesie O’Connor – but the competition is sure to be stiff with All-Ireland runners-up Cork receiving 10 nominations.

Among them is Patrick Horgan with the Glen Rovers star bidding to join the esteemed company of Rebel greats John Fenton, Tony O’Sullivan and Jimmy Barry-Murphy with a fifth award, while brothers Eoin and Rob Downey are nominated after sterling displays in defence.

Eoin Downey is also shortlisted for the PwC Young Hurler of the Year award where he is pitted against another inspirational defender in the shape of Clare’s Adam Hogan while Treaty tyro Cathal O’Neill is also in the mix after a superb season.

O’Neill is among nine nominees for John Kiely’s men after a season which saw their All-Ireland hopes dashed at the All-Ireland semi-final stage, although they earlier created another piece of history when becoming the first side to land a Munster six-in-a-row.

It has been a tumultuous year off the pitch for Hayes but his performances between the white lines were rewarded with a Hurler of the Year nomination – he was also nominated in 2021 and ‘23 – but the four-time All-Star is the outsider of the trio with O’Donnell expected to cap a stellar season by being crowned the game’s finest for 2024.

Kilkenny walked away with Leinster honours for the fifth season in succession, but their year ended in disappointment when falling to Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final and the Cats received just four nominations with Cian Kenny and John Donnelly their brightest hopes.

TJ Reid is a notable absentee from the 45-man shortlist with the 36-year-old, a seven-time All-Star, missing out on a nomination for the first time since 2013 after an underwhelming season by his lofty standards.

There is still plenty of representation from the Leinster SHC among the list, though, with both Chris Crummey and Conor Burke nominated from Dublin, while the Wexford forward duo of Lee Chin and Rory O’Connor are also in the mix for an award.

The displays of Antrim pair Paddy Burke and James McNaughton were also rewarded with a nomination as eight counties in total are represented. The 54th edition of the All-Stars will take place in the RDS on Friday, November 1.

PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Hurling Nominations

GOALKEEPERS Patrick Collins (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick), Eibhear Quilligan (Clare).

DEFENDERS Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen, Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney (all Clare); Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Ciarán Joyce (all Cork); Dan Morrissey, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash (all Limerick), Huw Lawlor, David Blanchfield (both Kilkenny); Calum Lyons, Tadhg de Búrca (both Waterford), Chris Crummey (Dublin), Paddy Burke (Antrim).

MIDFIELDERS Tony Kelly (Clare), Cathal O’Neill (Limerick), Conor Burke (Dub), Cian Kenny (Kilkenny), Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O’Mahony (Cork)

FORWARDS Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rodgers, Aidan McCarthy, Peter Duggan, David Fitzgerald, David Reidy (all Clare); Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan, Brian Hayes (all Cork); Gearóid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, David Reidy (all Limerick); Lee Chin (Wexford), Rory O’Connor (both Wexford); John Donnelly (Kilkenny), James McNaughton (Antrim).

Hurler of the Year Nominees

Shane O’Donnell (Clare), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), Kyle Hayes (Limerick).

Young Hurler of the Year Nominees

Adam Hogan (Clare), Eoin Downey (Cork), Cathal O’Neill (Limerick).