IT SOMETIMES FEELS like the Hurler of the Year prize is anointed right after the All-Ireland final.
One standout contender is elevated above all others and the race is run three months before the winner is officially announced.
Within 48 hours of July’s hurling showpiece, one bookmaker’s representative was quoted as saying the 2026 accolade appeared a “foregone conclusion”.
For any hurlers on the ditch with voting rights for the game’s top individual prize, it’s easy to see how some could be swayed.
They may well be right, of course. Perhaps it was all a done deal once the die was cast in Croke Park that summer’s afternoon. Yet in the spirit of three contenders still standing ahead of Friday night’s awards ceremony, let’s lay out the case for each.
Brian Hayes (Cork)
Cork's Brian Hayes celebrates scoring against Galway. james lawlor photos
james lawlor photos
A back-to-back Hurler of the Year nominee, Brian Hayes’s form has been compelling in every respect outside of Cork failing to cross the final hurdle.
The 25-year-old St Finbarr’s star has hit double digits for green flags in each of the past two seasons, compiling 21 in 27 games.
His threat level holds across the entire calendar, with those returns evenly split between league and championship, while also performing to a high level as an all-action football midfielder with the Barrs.
This year, Hayes’s 5-20 made him the championship’s top scorer from play.
He can win the ball either way. Put it in high and Hayes has the frame to take the sliotar or guide it into a teammate’s path. For all the goals he scores, there’s a similar number of assists mixed in.
Cork have a second goal and it's resourceful from Brian Hayes to score that as they extend their Munster SHC final lead
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Put it in low and Hayes has the wheels to get out in front and take it on the turn. He’s far from just a green-flag merchant as his best performance of the championship, against Waterford, featured seven points from play, often struck from the uncovered stand sideline.
That afternoon, Hayes also won a penalty as a series of Déise defenders couldn’t get a handle on him.
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“Take scores out of it altogether,” his manager Ben O’Connor said post-match. “He’s one of the hardest-working players that we have.
“That’s the third day this year that he’s run himself into the ground.”
Hayes’s regular contributions amounted to 2-9 in four games against Limerick this year. He scored one brilliantly improvised goal and won the penalty for the other in the Munster final, not to mention his assist for Alan Connolly’s major in their round-robin victory.
We don’t need to dwell on his hat-trick against Offaly, but will emphasise how he stood up in defeat to Galway. Like the Waterford contest, Hayes offered Cork’s primary outlet, forced the opposition defence into a reshuffle, and ended with 0-7 from play.
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes celebrates scoring a penalty against Clare. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
The Patrickswell wing-back was Hurler of the Year in 2022 and a nominee in 2023, when Limerick won their previous two All-Irelands. His return to that form this season was integral to the Treaty reclaiming the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Diarmaid Byrnes was a leader of the Limerick defence, a platform for attacks, and their deep-lying scoring threat throughout the campaign.
Given Cork’s success swerving Kyle Hayes’s wing, Byrnes had become the focus for puck-out strategies. He responded with some utterly dominant displays under the dropping ball to charge out of defence, often returning them for white flags.
Doubts had been raised over Byrnes’ form in recent years, but he set the tone for his season with the first point of their championship opener against Cork, celebrating with a first pump. He ended that day with 1-2, seemingly either missing or ignoring management’s instruction to take a point when goaling a 21-yard free.
GOAL 🚨
With 3 minutes left on the clock Diarmaid Byrnes finds the net for @LimerickCLG from a free!
#CORvLIM https://t.co/6HSsSeXL0F
He matched that tally as they got back on track against Clare, expertly tucking away a penalty. He added another against Tipperary as part of a 1-3 tally.
Even when he mishit a rare free in the Munster final against Cork, it turned to gold as Gearóid Hegarty turned it home.
He added 0-7 in the All-Ireland series as Byrnes continued to pile scores onto his all-time record tally for a defender. His 3-18 total included contributions in all seven games.
Yet his standout moments were just as often the rucks in which Byrnes emerged with the sliotar and the puck-outs he claimed from the air.
He’s a constant presence in games as Nickie Quaid’s go-to target for a short puck-out due to his impeccable crossfield distribution into the forwards.
Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
Limerick's Gearóid Hegarty is fouled by Conor Cleary and Niall O'Farrell of Clare. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
The front-runner and Limerick’s game-breaking forward all season.
It’s a well-worn fact that Gearóid Hegarty didn’t score in the All-Ireland series. But before we come to all that he did do, let’s look at those Munster Championship interventions.
In a year where Aaron Gillane’s best form arrived in the League and All-Ireland finals, Hegarty was often switched inside to destabilise the opposition defence and flip the outcome.
Trailing down the stretch against Waterford, Hegarty’s move inside saw Limerick drill 2-8 without reply; assisting the first goal and netting the second, albeit he admitted the latter finish was a total mishit.
Then, in the Munster final, Hegarty gave Limerick the vital foothold to overturn Cork, scoring one point and assisting Peter Casey’s winning brace. He had earlier scored a goal thanks to a mix of alertness and aerial prowess to disrupt the Rebels’ march.
Limerick have a goal of their own in the Munster SHC final and it's a poacher's finish from Gearoid Hegarty
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He didn’t add to that 2-8 total, but he played every minute and his influence never waned.
In the All-Ireland semi-final, Hegarty was Limerick’s tower of strength to keep them alive against the Clare onslaught. He won five frees and caused three Claremen to be booked as he claimed puck-out after puck-out.
In the final, Hegarty was denied two early goals, but kept providing ammunition for his teammates, not to mention his relentless tackling and tracking to derail Galway’s build-up.
“A number of years ago, it could be him feeling very frustrated that he didn’t get on the scoreboard, so even now he’s learning that you can contribute in so many ways on the pitch,” said Kiely post-match.
“Always stepping up when the moment is greatest is how I would describe Gearóid. He is a phenomenal leader on the pitch.”
That looks set to be acknowledged with a second Hurler of the Year award.
Young Hurler of the Year
Jason Rabbitte (Galway) looks the front-runner. The teenager was the only element of the Tribe’s attacking plan which functioned in the All-Ireland final, scoring an outrageous acute point after being fouled; one of a half-dozen fouls on the teenage full-forward. He also helped to tear Cork and Dublin asunder, ending the year on 2-11.
Cillian Trayers (Galway) was the man who finally got to grips with Brian Hayes in the semi-final victory over Cork, with a memorable high catch a turning point. His block on a Peter Casey goal chance was the high point of a tough final.
William Buckley (Cork) started the year as man of the match in beating Tipperary and tallied 0-19. His contributions throughout Munster highlighted his potential, with boundless pace and shooting from all angles, but he ended up on the bench in the All-Ireland series.
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All-Stars 2026: Making the case for each nominee in Hurler of the Year race
IT SOMETIMES FEELS like the Hurler of the Year prize is anointed right after the All-Ireland final.
One standout contender is elevated above all others and the race is run three months before the winner is officially announced.
Within 48 hours of July’s hurling showpiece, one bookmaker’s representative was quoted as saying the 2026 accolade appeared a “foregone conclusion”.
For any hurlers on the ditch with voting rights for the game’s top individual prize, it’s easy to see how some could be swayed.
They may well be right, of course. Perhaps it was all a done deal once the die was cast in Croke Park that summer’s afternoon. Yet in the spirit of three contenders still standing ahead of Friday night’s awards ceremony, let’s lay out the case for each.
Brian Hayes (Cork)
A back-to-back Hurler of the Year nominee, Brian Hayes’s form has been compelling in every respect outside of Cork failing to cross the final hurdle.
The 25-year-old St Finbarr’s star has hit double digits for green flags in each of the past two seasons, compiling 21 in 27 games.
His threat level holds across the entire calendar, with those returns evenly split between league and championship, while also performing to a high level as an all-action football midfielder with the Barrs.
This year, Hayes’s 5-20 made him the championship’s top scorer from play.
He can win the ball either way. Put it in high and Hayes has the frame to take the sliotar or guide it into a teammate’s path. For all the goals he scores, there’s a similar number of assists mixed in.
Put it in low and Hayes has the wheels to get out in front and take it on the turn. He’s far from just a green-flag merchant as his best performance of the championship, against Waterford, featured seven points from play, often struck from the uncovered stand sideline.
That afternoon, Hayes also won a penalty as a series of Déise defenders couldn’t get a handle on him.
“Take scores out of it altogether,” his manager Ben O’Connor said post-match. “He’s one of the hardest-working players that we have.
Hayes’s regular contributions amounted to 2-9 in four games against Limerick this year. He scored one brilliantly improvised goal and won the penalty for the other in the Munster final, not to mention his assist for Alan Connolly’s major in their round-robin victory.
We don’t need to dwell on his hat-trick against Offaly, but will emphasise how he stood up in defeat to Galway. Like the Waterford contest, Hayes offered Cork’s primary outlet, forced the opposition defence into a reshuffle, and ended with 0-7 from play.
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
The Patrickswell wing-back was Hurler of the Year in 2022 and a nominee in 2023, when Limerick won their previous two All-Irelands. His return to that form this season was integral to the Treaty reclaiming the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Diarmaid Byrnes was a leader of the Limerick defence, a platform for attacks, and their deep-lying scoring threat throughout the campaign.
Given Cork’s success swerving Kyle Hayes’s wing, Byrnes had become the focus for puck-out strategies. He responded with some utterly dominant displays under the dropping ball to charge out of defence, often returning them for white flags.
Doubts had been raised over Byrnes’ form in recent years, but he set the tone for his season with the first point of their championship opener against Cork, celebrating with a first pump. He ended that day with 1-2, seemingly either missing or ignoring management’s instruction to take a point when goaling a 21-yard free.
He matched that tally as they got back on track against Clare, expertly tucking away a penalty. He added another against Tipperary as part of a 1-3 tally.
Even when he mishit a rare free in the Munster final against Cork, it turned to gold as Gearóid Hegarty turned it home.
He added 0-7 in the All-Ireland series as Byrnes continued to pile scores onto his all-time record tally for a defender. His 3-18 total included contributions in all seven games.
Yet his standout moments were just as often the rucks in which Byrnes emerged with the sliotar and the puck-outs he claimed from the air.
He’s a constant presence in games as Nickie Quaid’s go-to target for a short puck-out due to his impeccable crossfield distribution into the forwards.
Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
The front-runner and Limerick’s game-breaking forward all season.
It’s a well-worn fact that Gearóid Hegarty didn’t score in the All-Ireland series. But before we come to all that he did do, let’s look at those Munster Championship interventions.
In a year where Aaron Gillane’s best form arrived in the League and All-Ireland finals, Hegarty was often switched inside to destabilise the opposition defence and flip the outcome.
Trailing down the stretch against Waterford, Hegarty’s move inside saw Limerick drill 2-8 without reply; assisting the first goal and netting the second, albeit he admitted the latter finish was a total mishit.
Then, in the Munster final, Hegarty gave Limerick the vital foothold to overturn Cork, scoring one point and assisting Peter Casey’s winning brace. He had earlier scored a goal thanks to a mix of alertness and aerial prowess to disrupt the Rebels’ march.
He didn’t add to that 2-8 total, but he played every minute and his influence never waned.
In the All-Ireland semi-final, Hegarty was Limerick’s tower of strength to keep them alive against the Clare onslaught. He won five frees and caused three Claremen to be booked as he claimed puck-out after puck-out.
In the final, Hegarty was denied two early goals, but kept providing ammunition for his teammates, not to mention his relentless tackling and tracking to derail Galway’s build-up.
“A number of years ago, it could be him feeling very frustrated that he didn’t get on the scoreboard, so even now he’s learning that you can contribute in so many ways on the pitch,” said Kiely post-match.
That looks set to be acknowledged with a second Hurler of the Year award.
Young Hurler of the Year
Jason Rabbitte (Galway) looks the front-runner. The teenager was the only element of the Tribe’s attacking plan which functioned in the All-Ireland final, scoring an outrageous acute point after being fouled; one of a half-dozen fouls on the teenage full-forward. He also helped to tear Cork and Dublin asunder, ending the year on 2-11.
Cillian Trayers (Galway) was the man who finally got to grips with Brian Hayes in the semi-final victory over Cork, with a memorable high catch a turning point. His block on a Peter Casey goal chance was the high point of a tough final.
William Buckley (Cork) started the year as man of the match in beating Tipperary and tallied 0-19. His contributions throughout Munster highlighted his potential, with boundless pace and shooting from all angles, but he ended up on the bench in the All-Ireland series.
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All-Stars Cork GAA GAA Galway GAA Hurler of the Year Hurling Limerick GAA Young Hurler of the Year