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Kerry skipper John Griffin lifts the Christy Ring Cup. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Best of the Rest

Hurling's lesser lights honoured in Meagher, Rackard and Ring teams of the year

The Champions 15 selections have been revealed.

The GAA has confirmed the Champions 15 award winners for the 2015 Ring, Rackard and Meagher hurling championships.

These awards will be presented at Friday night’s GAA GPA Allstars banquet sponsored by Opel at the Convention Centre, Dublin.

The awards are presented to honour the best hurlers from these three championships.

GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail said: “These awards acknowledge the undoubted talent that exists at every level of inter-county hurling.

“It also serves as a reminder of the pursuit of excellence that runs right through these competitions from start to finish.

“Like our Liam MacCarthy hurlers, some of whom will be honoured with All-Star awards on Friday evening, these players are the standard bearers in the teams and competitions in which they star.

“I congratulate all of the recipients and remind the winners of the importance of the role they play in the ongoing growth of hurling within their own counties and clubs.”

Lory Meagher champions Fermanagh have five players honoured and are led by Declan McGarry who scored an outstanding 2-3 in their final victory over Sligo.

Declan McGarry scores the second goal of the game Fermanagh's Declan McGarry. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Sligo have four players recognised for their heroics, while hurlers from Warwickshire, Lancashire and Leitrim each have two players selected to complete this Champion 15.

Michéal Kelly, the captain who won the Rackard Cup for Roscommon with a last gasp goal in the final with Armagh at Croke Park last June, is one of four players from the county to make their Championship 15.

An Armagh side who came within a point (2-12 to 1-14) of winning a record third crown, have three players selected.  Elsewhere there are six other counties represented with players from Tyrone (2), Donegal (2), Monaghan, Louth, Longford and Fingal completing the selection.

Michael Kelly lifts The Nicky Rackard Cup Roscommon's Micheál Kelly lifts the Nicky Rackard Cup. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Having lost the last two Christy Ring Cup finals at Croke Park, Kerry made it third time lucky in 2015 and saw off Derry by 1-20 to 0-12 to collect their second Christy Ring title in what was a big year for Kerry hurling.

It is no surprise to see the Kingdom top the list of recipients in the Ring Champion 15 with Shane Nolan, John Egan, Pa Kelly and Keith Carmody all recognised for their contributions.

Derry (3), Down (2), Kildare (2), Mayo, London, Meath and Wicklow have players awarded with a place in the prestigious selection of being the best of the best in this competition in 2015.

Lory Meagher Champion 15

Paul Earley
Clement Cunniffe (both Leitrim)
James O’Shaughnessy
Liam Knocker (both Lancashire)
Shane Conlon
Michael Cremin (both Warwickshire)
Keith Raymond
Jamie Kenny
Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch
Gary Cadden (all Sligo)
Daniel Teague
David Teague
Declan McGarry
Ciaran Corrigan
John Duffy (all Fermanagh)

Daniel Teague Fermanagh's Daniel Teague. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Nicky Rackard Champion 15

Eoin O’Connor Fingal
Joe O’Brien Longford
Shane Callan Louth
Stephen Lambe Monaghan
Jamesie Donnelly Donegal  
Ronan McDermott Donegal
Damian Casey Tyrone
Dermot Begley Tyrone
Cahal Carvill Armagh
Kieran McKernan Armagh
Conor Devlin Armagh
Micheál Kelly
Liam Kilcline
Ronan O’Meara
Peter Kellehan (all Roscommon)

Ronan O'Meara Roscommon star Ronan O'Meara. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

 

Christy Ring Champion 15

Billy Cuddihy Wicklow
Keith Keoghan Meath
Martin Ryan London
Kenny Feeney Mayo
Bernard Deay Kildare
Gerry Keegan Kildare
Danny Toner Down
Fintan Conway Down
Sean McCullagh
Ruairi Convery
Conor Quinn (all Derry)
Shane Nolan
John Egan
Pa Kelly
Keith Carmody (all Kerry)

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