THE PWC GAA/GPA Champion 15 selections have been announced ahead of tonight’s All-Stars banquet at Dublin’s Convention Centre and they threw up a number of familiar names.
The Champion 15 are effectively the All-Star awards for the Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup hurling competitions.
Christy Ring champions Carlow have the highest representation with four players chosen, including goal machine James Doyle who bagged 7-5 during the season – including 4-1 in the final against Antrim.
Slaughtneil’s Brendan Rogers, who operates at midfield for the Derry footballers, was named at centre-forward on the Nickey Rackard selection.
Former Antrim senior star Liam Watson made the Lory Meagher team after guiding Warwickshire to victory over Leitrim, scoring 0-11 in the final at Croke Park. Long serving Leitrim legend Clement Cunniffe was named on the team for the third time in the last four years.
GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail said: “I know only too well that the competition and commitment to excellence in the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cups is every bit as intense as it is in the hunt for the Liam MacCarthy Cup. So, congratulations to all of those who have been selected winners in the PwC Champion 15s for 2017.
“These teams take great pride in striving for success in these competitions and it is fitting
that we acknowledge and celebrate the players who were the stand our performers.”
Dermot Earley, GPA Chief Executive, added: “Congratulations to all of the Champion 15 award winners from the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups.
“It is a huge honour to be recognised as one of the best 15 hurlers in your competition, just rewards for years of hard work throughout your career, and no doubt you will treasure this recognition long after your inter-county days have finished.”
Here are the teams in full:
Christy Ring Champion 15
1. Enda Cooney (London)
2. Paul Divilly (Kildare)
3. Ger McManus (Mayo)
4. Padraig Kelly (Roscommon)
5. Eamonn Kearns (Wicklow)
6. Andy O’Brien (Wicklow)
7. Michael Hughes (Down)
8. Eoghan Sands (Down)
9. Chrissy O’Connell (Antrim)
10. John Dillon (Antrim)
11. Paddy Burke (Antrim)
12. Alan Corcoran (Carlow)
13. John Michael Nolan (Carlow)
14. James Doyle (Carlow)
15. Richard Coady (Carlow)
Nickey Rackard Champion 15
1. Mike Lyons (Louth)
2. Seamus Hannon (Longford)
3. Davin Flynn (Donegal)
4. Brendan Begley (Tyrone)
5. Stephen Donnelly (Tyrone)
6. Mark Treanor (Monaghan)
7. Donal Meegan (Monaghan)
8. Artie McGuinness (Armagh)
9. Nathan Curry (Armagh)
10. John Corvan (Armagh)
11. Brendan Rogers (Derry)
12. Darragh McCloskey (Derry)
13. Paul Cleary (Derry)
14. Sean Cassidy (Derry)
15. Gerald Bradley (Derry)
Lory Meagher Champion 15
1. Damien Sheridan (Cavan)
2. Matthew Hynes (Cavan)
3. Sean Corrigan (Fermanagh)
4. Shea Curran (Fermanagh)
5. Kevin Banks (Sligo)
6. Cormac Behan (Sligo)
7. Ronan Crowley (Lancashire)
8. Nathan Unwin (Lancashire)
9. Conor Byrne (Leitrim)
10. Liam Moreton (Leitrim)
11. Clement Cunniffe (Leitrim)
12. John Collins (Warwickshire)
13. Dean Bruen (Warwickshire)
14. Paul Uniacke (Warwickshire)
15. Liam Watson (Warwickshire)
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