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Kilkenny and Tipperary star in our hurling team of the weekend

Players from Clare, Wexford, Galway and Dublin also get our vote after the weekend’s action.

1. Alan Nolan (Dublin)

Dublin may have fell to a 12-point defeat but that wasn’t the fault of their goalkeeper Alan Nolan. The diminutive netminder impressed with his agility, alertness and shot-stopping against the Cats and earned the man-of-the-match award as a result.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

2. Liam Ryan (Wexford)

The Rapparees youngster has made an impressive step up to the senior ranks this year and caught the eye again on Saturday with his defensive showing against Clare. Has a busy week ahead with the county U21 side in action in Wednesday’s Leinster final while the senior replay is pencilled in for next weekend.

3. David McInerney (Clare)

Last year’s Allstar winner showed really good form at the back for Clare on Saturday and he expertly clipped the pass to Conor Ryan for that critical point that sent the game to extra-time. Clare need his defensive skills to surface again next Saturday.

4. Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny)

The four-time Allstar winner was in superb form as a rejuvenated Kilkenny won their first Leinster senior title since 2011. His positioning and defensive intelligence saw him repeatedly thwart Dublin’s attacks.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

5. Stephen Hiney (Dublin)

Dublin were placed under severe pressure yesterday by the Kilkenny attack but Hiney did his best to stand tall for his team and produced a fine defensive showing in the half-back line.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

6. Brian Hogan (Kilkenny)

Hogan shone at the heart of Kilkenny’s defence yesterday and helped ensure that Dublin made little headway in attack. It never looked like Anthony Daly’s side would be able to replicate the scoring spree they embarked upon in last year’s Leinster decider. Hogan was key to that trend.

7. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)

The Holycross-Ballycahill player has burst on to the stage to make an excellent impact for Tipperary in his debut campaign. He impressed at corner-back last month against Limerick and maintained those high standards against Galway on Saturday night when shifted to a half-back role.

8. Lee Chin (Wexford)

Last year’s Leinster U21 winning captain certainly impressed with his wholehearted effort in the centre of the pitch for Wexford helping them come agonisingly close to toppling Clare.

9. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)

The star of the show for Kilkenny in yesterday’s Leinster final, Hogan dictated the midfield exchanges and was hugely influential. Chipped in with 0-2 as well and while traditionally an attacker, the Danesfort player is now becoming a hugely prominent midfielder.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

10. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)

Reid’s scoring heroics had helped Kilkenny reach yesterday’s Leinster final as he had chalked up 3-25 in three provincial outings. He maintained hose brilliant standards as he smashed 0-10 against Dublin and his freetaking continues to impress.

11. Joe Canning (Galway)

Galway’s summer ground to a halt in dispiriting fashion again on Saturday night and leading light Canning saw his 2014 hurling involvement end in early July. He still bagged 0-5 against Tipperary and was particularly impressive in the opening period.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

12. Liam Óg McGovern (Wexford)

Wexford really put it up to Clare on Saturday and they set the tone with a blistering opening period that featured a superbly taken goal from McGovern. The St Anne’s club man ended up with 1-4 in an impressive outing.

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

13. Conor McGrath (Clare)

It looked like McGrath was going to be Clare’s hero when he floated over a brilliant point towards the end of extra-time. Wexford pegged them back at the death but McGrath was still a class act as he weighed in with 1-5 from play.

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)

Callanan has had his detractors but he certainly lead Tipperary in style on Saturday night. He finished up with 3-8 for his evening’s work and the goals were big scores at crucial times in the game. A superb display that saw him rightfully snatch the man-of-the-match award.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

15. John O’Dwyer (Tipperary)

But for Callanan’s heroics, O’Dwyer would have been Tipperary’s leading attacker after he starred against Galway. A return of 0-6 from play was indicative of the contribution he made to the Premier cause.

Who do you think should be in the team of the weekend?
Let us know in the comments section below

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