IT MAY HAVE taken a while to warm up, but the 2016 All-Ireland senior hurling championship really came to the boil from the semi-final stage.
There were still some other brilliant moments to remember from the season just ended and we begin our top ten with our own personal favourite….
1. Jennifer Malone consoles Pauric Mahony
At the end of the Waterford-Kilkenny All-Ireland semi-final replay in Thurles, a distraught Pauric Mahony fell the to the turf after his late free dropped just short.
A young girl, wearing a Kilkenny top, was on hand to console him and it was just a beautiful, beautiful sight.
But that’s not where the story ends. Later in the week, Malone received some very special gifts from the Waterford camp, including Mahony’s signed jersey, a signed hurley from the Déise team and a framed picture of the touching moment:
Top class from an outstanding player and human being.
2. Bubbles strikes late for Tipp
With time running out for Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway, John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer scored a priceless goal.
Sprung from the bench, and having sat out the Munster final through suspension, O’Dwyer took his frustration out on the Tribesmen by lancing a fine goal from the tightest of angles.
3. Conor Fogarty’s equaliser for Kilkenny against Waterford.
The drawn Waterford-Kilkenny semi-final was an absolute belter at Croke Park.
Late on, Walter Walsh struck a priceless goal but there was still time for more drama in a classic encounter, as Conor Fogarty banged over an equalising point from distance in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Relive some of the key moments that one of the games of the year in this video:
4. Eoin Murphy’s catch
Six days later, Waterford and Kilkenny went at it again.
In the fifth minute of additional time, Pauric Mahony had a chance to equalise but Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy denied him with a match-winning catch.
Refer back to moment #1 for what happened next…
5. The Austin Gleeson collection
We could compile an entire list from Austin Gleeson alone but his tour de force in the drawn Kilkenny game is captured in this video:
In the replay, the Hurler of the Year contender also struck for this superb early goal:
5. Wexford finally beat Cork
Wexford hadn’t won a championship fixture against Cork since 1956 until they got one over the Rebels in a July qualifier at Semple Stadium.
60 years of hurt were washed away in Thurles as Conor McDonald fired over 13 points for the Slaneysiders.
It was a bright moment in a summer when Wexford fans reminisced on their last All-Ireland success from 20 years ago.
6. Westmeath beat Offaly in Leinster
It was a memorable summer for the Westmeath hurlers as their U21s defeated Kilkenny in the Leinster championship.
In the senior grade, Westmeath won the first championship clash between the counties in 40 years, running out double scores 2-22 to 1-11 winners at Cusack Park.
7. Kerry hurlers compete in Leinster
The Kerry hurlers made an historic entry into the Leinster championship but Offaly and Westmeath emerged from the four-team round-robin group.
Kerry may have shocked Offaly in the Allianz Hurling League but the Faithful County learned those lessons and won the championship tussle between the counties.
Kerry were also beaten by Westmeath but they did score an opening day victory in the round-robin series over Carlow.
8. Goal or no goal?
Wexford goalkeeper Mark Fanning had a legitimate goal ruled out during the All-Ireland qualifier against Offaly on home soil.
Fanning’s brilliantly-struck penalty bounced off the back stanchion but remarkably, play was allowed to continue.
We’ll let you draw your own conclusions here:
It seems there’s little doubt about Fanning’s super effort and thankfully, there was no post-match consequences as Wexford still went on to win comfortably.
9. Pádraic Maher takes down Joe Canning
There were some moments during the season when Tipperary laid down serious physical markers.
When he took charge last year, manager Michael Ryan promised a more abrasive approach from his players and that was in evidence when Brendan Maher banged Waterford’s Kevin Moran out over the sideline during the Munster final.
Ronan Maher also put in a ferocious hit on Liam Blanchfield last Sunday but in fairness to the Kilkenny youngster, he picked himself up and supplied an assist for an Eoin Larkin point.
But when Pádraic Maher lined up Joe Canning in the All-Ireland semi-final, the Galway man wasn’t getting up:
10. What a season for the McGraths
Hurling doesn’t always do fairytale stories but it did this summer.
Last year, Noel McGrath successfully battled testicular cancer and in 2016, his off-field and career rehabilitations were complete when he captured Munster and All-Ireland medals.
But he wasn’t alone as younger brother John made a searing impact in his full debut season at senior level.
That’s not all, as another of the McGrath siblings, Brian, captained Tipperary to All-Ireland minor glory on Sunday.
What a year for the popular Loughmore-Castleiney clan.
What were your personal highlights? Leave your feedback in the comments section below…
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