THE 2015 HURLING Allstars have been announced and, as per usual, they’re generating plenty of discussion.
There’s no denying that all 15 of this year’s winners are deserving of their accolade but equally, there are a handful of players who must feel that they just missed out.
This is not an argument for their inclusion at the expense of someone else, but a recognition of the excellent seasons which put them right in the mix.
Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
It’s a shame that we didn’t see a massive amount of Cathal Barrett this summer because when we did, he was excellent.
A lingering shoulder injury ruled the 2014 Young Hurler of the Year out of the Munster semi-final but he return with a man of the match performance in the win over Waterford.
Darren Gleeson came to his rescue when he conceded a penalty in the defeat against Galway but otherwise, he was solid on a difficult day for the Tipp full-back line.
Had he played more than twice this summer, he surely would have forced his way in.
Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
You’d nearly make a case that Gleeson should be on the list for his magnificent sideline cuts alone, but it would be foolish to reduce one of the game’s brightest young talents to one piece of technical ability, no matter how masterful.
When The Sunday Game named their Team of the Year, Gleeson was overlooked in favour of team-mate Tadhg de Burca, who excelled in the Waterford sweeper role, and it appears that the same thing has happened again.
Superb at the heart of the Déise defence, he was was just as comfortable when he switched to wing-forward in the quarter-final win over Dublin.
Unlucky this year, but you’d imagine there are plenty of Allstars in his future.
Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny)
One of the unsung heroes of this majestic Kilkenny side, Conor Fogarty was surely the third name on the shortlist for the two midfield spots.
A model of consistency with tireless work in the Cats’ engine room, Fogarty was outstanding in the All-Ireland final. When Kilkenny needed to drag Galway into a fistfight, Fogarty and Michael Fennelly took their game to another level and cut off the supply to the Tribesmen’s forwards.
“For the second year in a row, Conor Fogarty doesn’t get an Allstar he most definitely deserved,” said team-mate Eoin Larkin, another man who was unlucky to miss the cut.
Joe Canning (Galway)
No, Galway didn’t win the All-Ireland but that shouldn’t diminish another excellent campaign from Canning. He finished the championship with 4-58, with his wondergoal in the Leinster final standing out as the pick of his 3-16 from play.
You could argue that Canning’s most influential performances came early in the championship — he was at his best in Leinster — but don’t forget that he scored 0-7 in the first half against Kilkenny before fading.
Even as Glynn, Flynn and Mannion all stepped up to turn the Joe Show into an ensemble performance, he still finished the championship as top scorer. It seems unfair to hold him to a higher standard than others.
Johnny Glynn (Galway)
Johnny Glynn hit the big time with his explosive performance against Cork, following up THAT goal with THAT interview.
But like Canning, it appears that Galway’s inability to match Kilkenny on the biggest day of all has ultimately cost him.
That should really be little more than an asterisk on a magnificent season. Glynn was a monstrous presence in the half-forward line throughout the summer, adding an aerial threat to give even the most experienced defenders a headache.
Canning, Mannion and Flynn may have racked up the points between them but Glynn’s battling and distribution was a vital link in the Tribesmen’s supply chain.
