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Can Mendy, Christensen, Mount, And Lukaku Be The Spine Of The New Chelsea?

It’s safe to say that Premier League is very popular in Ireland. This is pretty clear when you look at some of the local bookies like https://www.mrgreen.com/ie/, for example, and realize that this league is one of the main competitions. The reason why Premier League is so popular in this country is the number of Irish players who have written the history of this league in the past.

 

Today, however, we’re not going to talk about Irish players. Today, we are going to talk about the new spine of Chelsea Football Club. Back in the day, the spine consisted of Petr Chech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba. Today, we can see similar players who might be able to be the spine for the new Chelsea. Let’s see whether or not Edouard Mendy, Andres Christensen, Mason Mount, and Romelu Lukaku have what it takes for this.

Edouard Mendy

After a few adventures with goalkeepers, Chelsea finally has Mr. Reliable at the goal. His name is, of course, Edouard Mendy and he’s proving to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world today. This season, Mendy started all 11 games for Chelsea in the Premier League and managed to keep 7 clean sheets. If someone deserves to be compared to Petr Chech, it’s this fella.

Andreas Christensen

You might be asking yourselves – why didn’t we put Rudiger on this list? Well, Rudiger’s future in the club is not certain, even though he is one of the most important players for the team. Andreas Christensen, however, will likely stay one of the pillars of Chelsea’s defense in years to come. This season, Christensen has played 8 games in the Premier League and kept 5 clean sheets. However, his playing style and the ability to position himself perfectly remind us of the one and only John Terry.

Mason Mount

Chelsea’s golden boy. Mason Mount is the product of the Chelsea academy and it represents everything good about Chelsea’s school. Frank Lampard believed in him and it proved to be the right thing to do. This season, Mason played 9 matches, scored 3 goals, and had 2 assists. However, his performance on the pitch is much more than what you can see in the stats. His vision resembles the one Frank Lampard had when he played for the club.

Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea finally managed to lock down a true striker this past summer. Lukaku played his career best last season for Inter Milan and he decided to come home and prove that he can be the new Didier Drogba. He started the season in a wonderful way, by scoring one against Arsenal and two against Aston Villa, but then came the dry spell and the injury. However, he can definitely be the striker Chelsea needs to win the Premier League.

 

What were once Chech, Terry, Lampard, and Drogba are now Mendy, Christensen, Mount, and Lukaku. Can they win the league like their predecessors? Based on the 11 games this season, they just might.

Farrell Faces Tough Decision Regarding Ageless Sexton

Johnny Sexton continues to display his incredible skills at the highest level for Ireland after leading his team to a dominant victory over Japan in his 100th cap. The 36-year-old marked the occasion with a try, the 16th of his international career, along with a penalty and four conversions.

Despite his advancing years, Sexton remains the heartbeat and the foundation of the Ireland team. His importance to the side cannot be understated, even with the talented Joey Carbery waiting in the wings. Injuries have started to diminish elements of his skills, but he has improved the mental aspects of his game and his leadership on the field is second to none in the squad.

However, Ireland must have an honest conversation about whether Sexton will remain the same player in two years for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where Andy Farrell’s men are backed at 4/1 in the rugby betting odds with Sexton in the line-up. The consensus is that Ireland are the third-best side in the Northern Hemisphere, which tends to agree with the current world rankings, although the order currently places France behind the Shamrocks.

Sexton is providing a valuable impact in the short term and will help his side compete with Les Bleus and England in the Six Nations. The fly-half was instrumental in Ireland’s comfortable 32-18 victory over England on home soil last season that was not as close as the scoreline suggested. Beyond the tournament, Farrell will have to consider whether he should turn the team over at fly-half in favour of Carbery or hand rising star Harry Byrne valuable minutes on the field. It has worked in other positions, although the coach may be concerned about wholesale changes in the ranks.

Ireland are in a strange position in terms of a transition between teams. Sexton and Conor Murray are still worthy of their places in the side, which is fantastic for Farrell to have at his disposal, but in the long term, the next generation does not appear to be hammering at the door to oust them from their roles in the backfield. After the 2019 World Cup and the departure of Joe Schmidt, Rory Best retired from the game and handed the captaincy to Sexton. The transition in the front row was a smooth one as Ronan Kelleher replaced Best at hooker and has taken to international rugby like a duck to water, excelling in the early stages of his career.

Kelleher is a prime example of a player that was ready for the rigours of playing for Ireland and stepping into the shoes of a legend. Carbery has shown glimpses of his talent in his relief of Sexton when the veteran has been sidelined due to injury, but has not delivered enough in his brief starts to prove that he can step into his shoes. Sexton will be 38 by the time of the next World Cup and Carbey will be 27. One of those players should be at the peak of their powers. However, modern-day sport has proven that players can continue to excel into their late thirties and beyond. Farrell has to judge the decision to perfection to ensure that his team are competitive in 2023.

One Step Further from the Premier League: Irish Best Young Talents

Ireland is one hell of a country, and the Paddies are one of their proudest symbols. When we think of Irish players, our mind tends to flow immediately to Robbie Keane, the famed Irishman who terrorized Premier League’s defenses for years and years, scoring more than 50 goals for his national squad as well. Unfortunately, that’s just about it (with the exception of keen observers of the sport or, of course, Irish nationals). 

We should get to know the tone and specificities of each league in order to better understand football, and the Overlyzer Live Betting tool appears as one of the best ways to analyze, in a match-day, several games at once, and thus start coming to a sense about what teams are more exciting to watch play, and who to put our eyes on.

For those of us who are look carefully, there are more than a couple of young paddies that are set to take Ireland by storm, and perhaps even make a sensible impact in the Premier League. This is the result of an irish effort to reform their football, and it seems to have worked wonders. Talking about wonders, let’s look at the talent that is just now blossoming and may mean glory to the Irish, and appetizing bids for their teams.

Irish Top Young Talents:

Troy Parrott

Troy needs not to show off to go to England, for he is already there. From Spurs, he has been on loan, first at Milwall and then at Ipswich, which is not surprising, considering his age: he is only nineteen years old. As a center-forward, he not only has mobility, but a keen eye for the net, that appears to be natural for him. Not nearly as known as the next entry, Nathan Collins, we may seem him at Spurs, in their first team, soon enough. If not, in a Premier League club. Be that as it may, he seems destined to succeed.

Nathan Collins

This young center-back is already playing cards in the Premier League, wearing Burnley’s shirt. The best evaluated young irish player by transfermarkt, Nathan not only shows that he is a sturdy paddy, but that he can initiate plays as well, and even pose some troubles with his vicious headings. Seems like he won’t be leaving the Premier League any time soon.

Andrew Omobamidele

Continuing with a defensive talent, it’s time for Andrew. Omobamidele is a bit of a tongue twister, but the bet is that we will be saying his name so many teams, we will get used to it. At least, it seems that his talent is demanding us to get used to him. After a successful stint at Norwich last season, where he took the opportunity handed to him by the unfortunate injuries of his teammates, he is now regarded as an high-IQ center-back, versed on anticipation and a reading of the game that is unnatural for a player his age, he relies also on a technical prowess above-average to be a part of both phases of the game. Along with Nathan, Ireland has a central backbone for years and years to come.

Jason Knight

Last but not least is Jason Knight, another shiny youngster that is already in England and has no plans of leaving soon. He, incredibly, already is one of Derby’s captains, by orders of Rooney, who relies on this young midfielder as though he is a veteran. With a James Milner’s type of attitude to it, of complete and imposing attitude towards the entire game, Jason Knight is prone to be the captain of Ireland soon enough. Naturally a box-to-box, he can also play as a ten or as a right-midfielder, as this polyvalence shows not only technical capability, but also sacrifice for the team.

A New Super Generation?

Time will be the judge of all this players’, and others’, careers. One thing is certain, though: there is plenty to go around and it would be a shame to see all this talent go to waste.

 

What We’ve Learnt Since Manchester United Defeated Arsenal 3-2

The 4-1 embarrassment at the hands of Watford left Manchester United suites no choice but to relive Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of his duties. Evidently, this decision was the correct move to make as we’re now looking at five positive results for the Red Devils since the Norwegian manager’s departure. 

A 2-0 success over Villareal during United’s matchday 5 Champions League outing offered a bitter-sweet moment, especially when reminiscing on the losing battle against the Spanish side in last year’s Europa League final. This result was quickly followed by a well deserved 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, many expected United to crumble in front of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea squad, but the tactical deliverance of Michael Carrick remained strong. 

The former United player turned coach was successful during his caretaker manager position, and he left the Red Devils in a positive mental state upon the arrival of Rangnick. But his most triumphant moment during his small tenure was the 3-2 beating of Arsenal on home turf. 

 

Respect & Thanks To Michael Carrick

As Solsjkaer cleared his office desk and made his way towards the Old Trafford exit, Michael Carrick was positioned to steady the ship whilst the United board talked business with Ralf Rangnick. 

Carrick was instantly faced with three extremely challenging fixtures versus Chelsea, Villareal, and Arsenal, in where he collected 4 points and a Champions League final-16 qualification spot. 

The Arsenal fixture began with an unfortunate 1-0 deficit for United when Emile Smith-Rowe gave his team the lead with nothing but an empty net to defeat. 

The 14th-minute goal was created from a freak accident where Fred stood on David de Gea’s foot, and the Spanish goalkeeper dropped down in pain. 

The referee failed to blow his whistle before Smith-Rowe capitalised and netted the ball, and the goal was unquestionable because the injury surfaced from de Gea’s teammate. 

However, the early dramatics were soon turned around when Bruno Fernandes equalised just before the halftime whistle, and soon after the second half began, it was star man Ronaldo who slotted home his 800th career goal

A cutback inside the box to Martin Odegaard saw the Gunners go level. Still, the goalscorer challenged Fred inside the penalty area, which resulted in a VAR check and a United penalty that wasn’t going to be missed by CR7.   

The defining moment when Solskjaer’s exit became apparently positive was when United defeated their London rivals Arsenal. But more importantly, what did we learn from this result? 

Why Hello Mr Rangnick  

The Rangnick era began last Sunday when United defeated Crystal Palace 1-0, a surprising clean sheet result that the Red Devils have struggled to produce this term. However, Rangnick’s first physical appearance at Old Trafford was when the 63-year-old sat alongside John Murtough, United’s football director, for the Arsenal fixture.

The German coach will undoubtedly be aware of the challenging task he’s faced with turning this Manchester United squad towards his renowned style. Still, it seemed like his presence in the stands alone was enough to push his players to victory. 

Number 801 for CR7  

Taking a punt on Ronaldo to score has almost become a given since his return to the red side of Manchester. Bookmakers will often be found reducing the price on Ronaldo to score because of his prolific success in front of goal. 

When sports bettors scroll through the anytime goalscorer market for their weekly sports picks, placing Ronaldo on the betting slip has been a money-making opportunity, even throughout the unreliable streak of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

And during the Arsenal fixture, with his new manager in the crowd, Ronaldo proved that he’s still a significant asset for Rangnick’s squad selection moving forward. 

Ronaldo’s first goal of the evening became the Portuguese superstar’s 800th goal. When the penalty was given, there was no other choice after Fernandes skyrocketed his previous penalty attempt against Aston Villa. CR7 stepped up, and it was 801 goals with a 3-point takeaway for United’s most prominent goal scorer. 

Bruno is Back  

Finally, after 16 appearances without a goal, a sigh of relief for Bruno Fernandes came when the number 18 levelled the score before halftime. 

The timing couldn’t have been better, as the Portuguese international displayed his creative flair on his 100th appearance for Manchester United. 

Again, with Rangnick in attendance, Fernandes looked refreshed and delivered a stellar performance he’s best known for.  

5 Secrets about Making Money with Online Sports Betting & Online Casino

Do you enjoy gambling but don’t have the time or money to go to a casino? Or maybe you’ve been to a casino and just didn’t have a good time. Either way, did you know that you can gamble online? There are many different online casinos where you can play all sorts of games, from slots to blackjack, reviewed by the best review and strategy sites like 6Takarakuji. And best of all, you can do it from the comfort of your own home! So whether you’re looking for a new hobby or just want to try your luck, online casinos are a great option. 

Apart from online casino games, it’s time to speak about sports betting, which is growing more popular on the internet and allows best pragmatic play casinos online. 

Making sports bets on the internet is something that the majority of us are interested in. The delicious reality is that you can make money with them if you carefully follow certain fundamental guidelines since the outcomes are mostly reliant on chance. But, like many successful online casino gamblers, there are many more factors that you can influence by following established guidelines.

We’ve put together a list of 5 strategies and suggestions to assist you to make the best judgments possible when it comes to sports betting. They’re listed below:

Create a budget in the same way as online casino players do

Before you decide which website to bet on or which athletic event to watch, consider how much money you want to put into it. Decide how much money you’re willing to part with. If you’re new to online betting, start with a small budget and gradually expand it as you gain expertise. Of course, the larger the wager, the more you will win; nevertheless, begin by stepping over sure, and you will be inspired.

Make use of a betting comparator

Comparators of bets are a good resource for placing bets on football and cricket, as well as basketball, cycling, and motor racing. For each game or sporting event, these services compare the odds of the leading online bookies and casinos. This allows you to examine the changes you may win from betting on each at a glance and pick the betting site that provides you with the best odds. They also provide thorough information on the numerous online bookies available.

Pick a sport and become an expert in it

We do not propose that you try your luck with boxing first, then cycling, and last soccer or cricket betting. Choose a topic and devote yourself to it by watching trends and reading about it in specialist publications and blogs, since the more information you have on the subject, the better your odds of winning your online bets will be.

If, for example, football is your favorite sport and you decide to concentrate on it, the largest bets you’ll have to value are those for the Euro or World championship. As a result, we propose that you use the following betting comparison to check the odds of different bookmakers for each favorite.

When a team is playing at home, betting on a losing team is a bad idea

When teams play at home, they are more motivated. That suggests they have a better chance of winning than someone else’s.

“Their boldness when they play at home makes them frightening,” Diego Simeone stated. As a result, teams that play at home frequently win their games. Take advantage of people’s proclivity to wager on “losers” while they’re playing on their turf.

Stay away from live betting

It is much simpler to behave sanely when one has a bright intellect. Because you’re watching the Euro championship final match with your pals, don’t be carried away by the emotions of the moment.

Finally, some individuals believe that the key to success is to wager on the most bizarre sports conceivable, in unfathomable contests, and with clubs or players, we’ve never heard of. They also believe it is simpler to get excellent outcomes since the quotas should not be thoroughly investigated because no one knows about them.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The betting houses have a degree of security of the bet and the outcomes in all sports and online casino games. So it’s preferable to gamble on what we know and can get additional knowledge and data from to assist us to make the best judgment possible.

Wasps v Munster – Preview, Teams, Odds, Where To Watch

A depleted Munster side will begin their European journey in Coventry when they walk into the Wasps nest on Sunday.

Johann Van Graan’s team looks vastly different to what would have been expected of them before they got stuck in South Africa.

On top of this, it will be Munster’s first 80 minutes of competitive rugby since their defeat to Ospreys on October 23.

The Stags will face the Wasps, who have played four games since October ended but are yet to find a win.

Lee Blackett’s side only have three wins to their name after nine games but are seen as a bigger obstacle to overcome due to Munster’s situation.

Wasps reached the Gallagher Premiership final just two seasons ago, losing by only three points to Exeter Chiefs, who won a league and European double that year.

However, they have failed to reach the heights that they did in the time since then and their measly 23 carries per line break average this season does not exactly scream attacking intent.

Their defence has not been impressive either – in 2019-20, they conceded an average of 22.59 points per game in the regular season in the Premiership but this year, the number sits at 26.55 after just nine games, showing a decrease in performance.

However, 18 players are listed as unavailable for Wasps through injury this weekend, and one can expect them to improve when that number goes down but it appears this Munster side may play Wasps at a perfect time.

Munster, on the other hand, can be analysed for days but their team for Sunday’s 3:15 pm match is an unknown entity.

Five players have been handed their Munster debuts, including Ireland U20 number eight Daniel Okeke.

The team is a mix of youth, experience and players yet to get solid game time under their belts.

Teams

Wasps

15 Marcus Watson (59)

14 Zach Kibirige (56)

13 Michael Le Bourgeois (65)

12 Jimmy Gopperth (136)

11 Josh Bassett (158)

10 Jacob Umaga (58)

9 Sam Wolstenholme (22)

1 Tom West (57)

2 Dan Frost (5)

3 Biyi Alo (22)

4 Sebastian de Chaves (5)

5 Elliott Stooke (9)

6 Alfie Barbeary (16)

7 Brad Shields (61) (c)

8 Tom Willis (49)

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (53)

17 Robin Hislop (9)

18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (53)

19 Tim Cardall (37)

20 Nizaam Carr (63)

21 Thomas Young (147)

22 Will Porter (37)

23 Francois Hougaard (4)

Munster

(15-9, 1-8) Patrick Campbell; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Scott Buckley, James French; Eoin O’Connor, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Daniel Okeke.

Replacements: Declan Moore, Mark Donnelly, Roman Salanoa, John Forde, Conor Moloney, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Jonathan Wren.

Odds

Wasps 1/5

Draw 25/1

Munster 7/2

Where To Watch

The match will be available to watch on BT Sport 2 and beIN Sports with coverage starting at 3 pm.

Clermont Auvergne v Ulster – Preview, Teams, Odds, Where To Watch

Ulster kick-off their latest European adventure with a trip to Clermont to face a Top 14 side under the tutelage of former boss Jono Gibbes.

The New Zealander previously managed Ulster for a season in 2017-18 – the last year in which Ulster missed the Pro14 playoffs.

He returned to New Zealand to coach Waikato instead of seeing out his contract after an underwhelming season.

Gibbes took the Clermont job after spending time with Ronan O’Gara at La Rochelle, leading them to the Champions Cup final last season.

However, his start to life in France has been a mixed bag with impressive wins and poor losses galore.

Dan McFarland’s Ulster have been a far more consistent outfit as a whole but their form in recent weeks has failed to back that up.

The provincial outfit will be hoping to bounce back from defeat to Ospreys with a victory over the three-time Challenge Cup champions.

Their strength as a team grows every year and they are expected to get better with the arrival of new signing Duane Vermuelen.

The World Cup-winning Springbok will make his debut for the Ulstermen this weekend after recovering from Covid-19 following the end of his international duty for the year.

Former Munster fly-half JJ Hanrahan will wear the number 10 shirt for the French outfit hosting the Irish province.

The likes Peceli Yato and Damian Penaud also appear in the starting XV but four players miss out due to Covid – one confirmed case, one close contact and two unvaccinated players.

Teams

Clermont Auvergne

Ulster

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen;

Replacements: John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Ross Kane, Sam Carter, Greg Jones, Sean Reidy, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore.

Odds

Clermont Auvergne 4/9

Draw 17/1

Ulster 9/5

Where To Watch

The game kicks off at 5:300 pm and will be shown live on BT Sport 3 – coverage starts at 5:15 pm.

Leinster v Bath – Preview, Teams, Odds, Where To Watch

Leinster begin their European campaign this season when they welcome Bath to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 3:15 pm.

The two sides are in contrasting form heading into the tie – Leinster have only lost one game from seven while Bath are yet to win a game, losing nine times in a row to start their season.

The Irish provincial outfit’s form is down to the synergy they have nurtured over the years, and now with a full squad at their disposal at all times of the year, they are reaping the rewards of their past rotations.

The forwards are currently outscoring the backs by 21 tries to nine for the Pro14 champions, but are doing so because they are joining attacking phases in wide positions – for example, hooker Dan Sheehan’s try against Connacht.

Bath, on the other hand, have leaked tries and it’s clear that their chemistry is not up to scratch, especially when holes appear in the defensive line several times in every game that they have played.

They have conceded 297 points so far this season – an average of 33 per game – and 142 of those points came inside two games against Gloucester and Saracens, but Leinster have never scored more than 56 against their upcoming opponent.

However, Bath are good at breaking through opposition lines themselves and their attack has benefitted from this – their 18 carries per line break is joint-third-highest in the Gallagher Premiership.

Three Leinster players have contracted Covid-19 and will be unavailable to line out for their team as a result but a strong team was named nonetheless.

Six Bath players will earn their Champions Cup debuts on this season’s opening weekend.

Teams

Leinster

15. Hugo Keenan (35)
14. Jordan Larmour (66)
13. Garry Ringrose (91)
12. Ciarán Frawley (41)
11. James Lowe (56)
10. Ross Byrne (110)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (105)

1. Andrew Porter (81)
2. Rónan Kelleher (29)
3, Tadhg Furlong (117)
4. Ross Molony (122)
5. Ryan Baird (33)
6. Rhys Ruddock (195) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (103)
8. Caelan Doris (44)

Replacements:

16. Dan Sheehan (18)
17. Cian Healy (237)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (6)
19. Devin Toner (270)
20. Max Deegan (70)
21. Luke McGrath (157)
22. Jimmy O’Brien (37)
23. Tommy O’Brien (12)

Bath

Odds

Leinster 1/200

Draw 70/1

Bath 35/1

Where To Watch

The game will be televised on BT Sport and beIN Sports. Coverage starts at 3 pm.

Connacht v Stade Francais – Preview including five must know match facts

Connacht v Stade Francais in the Heineken Champions Cup kicks off at 1pm Sunday, TV Coverage –  The match is live on BT Sport 3 and Luke Pearse from England is the ref with David Rose on TMO duty.

Connacht are without Paul Boyle, Bundee Aki and Ultan Dillane. Stade have made ten changes to the team that won on Sunday. Expect a Connacht victory.

Head Coach Andy Friend is excited by the impending return of Heineken Champions Cup rugby in front of spectators:

“Sunday is the start of a really exciting opportunity for us to make an impact in the Champions Cup. Knockout rugby in the competition is the aim so a win this weekend is vital if we want to get there, albeit against a very strong Stade Francais team. There’s been some special occasions at our home in this competition so with a strong Sportsground crowd behind us it’s set up to be a great occasion”.

Connacht v Stade Francais

(1) This will be the first time that Connacht and Stade Francas have met in European competition, Stade will be the 24th different French outfit that Connacht have faced in either the Challenge Cup or Heineken Champions Cup

(2) Connacht are on a four game losing streak in the Heineken Champions Cup, their worst run since losing their opening games in the competition (2011/12)

(3) Connacht have won 14 of their last 17 home games in European competition, however, two of their three-time did come in their most recent two games at The Sportsground.

(4) Connacht averaged the most metres gained (575), most defenders beaten (34) of any side although their tackle success rate of 77% was the lowest in the competition.

(5) Stade de Francis are playing in the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time since 2015/16, which was also they played an away game against an Irish side in Europe, losing 13-26 to Munster back in January 2016.

Other facts about the Heineken Cup 2021/22

• The clubs in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup have a total of 38 European titles between them.

• Each club will play four matches during the pool stage, two at home and two away with the eight highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualifying for the Round of 16.

• The clubs ranked from nine to 11 in each of the pools will qualify for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

• The Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 matches will be played over two legs with the four highest-ranked clubs in each pool at home in the second leg. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played over one leg with the final scheduled for the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Saturday 28 May.

• It was decided to extend the First Registration date to Wednesday (8 December) to allow all participating clubs to supplement their squads with an unlimited number of previously unregistered players.

• Of the players registered for the tournament, Leicester Tigers’ Richard Wigglesworth has made the most appearances with 93 to date – 69 for Saracens and 24 for Sale Sharks. Cian Healy of Leinster Rugby is next on 90 appearances.

• Leinster’s injured captain, Johnny Sexton, who is fourth on the tournament’s all-time points scoring list behind Ronan O’Gara, Stephen Jones and Owen Farrell, needs just one point to reach 700 career points.

• If available and selected, Cardiff Rugby’s Rhys Priestland and Bradley Davies of the Ospreys could both make their 50th tournament appearances in Round 1.

Limerick make history with 12 All Stars after dominant year

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions Limerick have made history as 12 of their players have been awarded 2021 PwC All-Stars for their performances this season, the most any county has ever received in any code.

No other county has ever reached double figures in the final 15 in the 50-year history of the awards.

Limerick beat the record that they equalled last year – one that the Kilkenny hurlers achieved three teams in 1983, 2000 and 2008, and the Kerry and Dublin footballers also accomplished in 1981, and 1977 and 2020.

Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy wins his third All-Star and the Cats’ 189th ever, while Waterford full-back Connor Prunty gets a spot in front of him.

The rest of the team is filled with Treaty talent including Séan Finn, Kyle Hayes and Cian Lynch but right corner-forward sees a deviation from the trend – Clare star Tony Kelly appears for his third career award.

Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “In the fullness of time, the achievement of getting club and county games played in the midst of a harrowing pandemic will rank as one of our most significant achievements. It was a collective effort, and enormous credit is due to our players for their dedication and diligence.

“This PwC All-Star hurling selection represents the cream of a memorable crop in 2021. I salute all of those who have been chosen in this final 15 and know that after the year you have had it will be extra special and celebrated by your families and clubs.”

Tom Parsons, GPA CEO said: “To all the hurling nominees, congratulations on making it to the shortlist and to each winner, your selection is fully merited given the exceptional individual performances you produced in 2021.

“You lit up what was another tough year and brought joy and memorable moments to millions. Indeed, to every player who lined out in 2021, thank you.”

In light of the on-going pandemic and its restrictions, a decision was taken not to proceed with the traditional presentation banquet.

However, the event will still be showcased live by RTE 1 television in a special programme this Friday at 7 pm.

The PwC All-Stars for Football 2021 will be announced live on the night of the awards which also see the naming of the PwC GAA/GPA Players of the Year in hurling and football as well as the Young Players of the Year in both codes.

PwC All-Stars Hurling 2021

1.      Eoin Murphy (Glenmore, Kilkenny) (2016, ’18)

2.      Seán Finn (Bruff, Limerick) (2018, ’19, ’20)

3.      Conor Prunty (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty, Waterford)

4.      Barry Nash (South Liberties, Limerick)

5.      Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell, Limerick) (2020)

6.      Declan Hannon (Adare, Limerick) (2018)

7.      Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry, Limerick) (2020)

8.      Will O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick)

9.      Darragh O’Donovan (Doon, Limerick)

10.  Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s, Limerick) (2020)

11.  Cian Lynch (Patrickswell, Limerick) (2018, 2020)

12.  Tom Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick) (2020)

13.  Tony Kelly (Ballyea, Clare) (2013, ’20)

14.  Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon, Limerick)

15.  Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick)