After a summer that saw the Treaty County sweep all before them to retain the Liam MacCarthy Cup, John Kiely’s outstanding champions bring that dominance to the final list of 45 nominations.

Also announced today are the players who have been shortlisted for the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year Award with Limerick again setting the standard.

Seán Finn, Kyle Hayes and Cian Lynch will be voted on by their peers for the overall award.

The vote for the PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year Award will be contested between Kilkenny’s Eoin Cody, Cork’s Shane Barrett and Clare’s Aidan McCarthy.

Nickie Quaid, Eoin Murphy and Patrick Collins form a high calibre trio contesting the goalkeeping award.

In defence, the 18 nominees are from Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Clare.

The six midfield nominees include the high scoring Laois player Paddy Purcell. Dublin wing forward and captain Danny Sutcliffe and Wexford captain Lee Chin are their counties sole representatives in a star-studded list of 18 attackers who will be cut to six for the final 15. 

The full county breakdown for the hurling nominations is Limerick 15, Cork nine, Waterford seven, Kilkenny five, three each for Clare and Tipperary and one each for Dublin, Laois and Wexford.

Congratulating the nominees, Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “I want to congratulate all of those who have been chosen among this distinguished list of nominees for the PwC All-Stars.

“To be recognised and shortlisted as being among the cream of the crop from what was yet another thrilling hurling summer is a significant achievement for all the players, and is shared by their families, clubs and the communities they represent.

“I also congratulate the contenders announced for the PwC Hurler of the Year and the PwC Young Hurler of the Year. 

“Since 1971 the All-Stars has been synonymous with excellence. Our thanks to PwC for their continuing support of this wonderful scheme.”

Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner, PwC, said: “For the last 50 years the All-Star Awards have marked competitiveness and success on the pitch, but also preparation, bravery and sacrifice away from it.

“On behalf of everyone at PwC, sincere congratulations to each of the 45 hurlers nominated for the 2021 PwC All-Stars.

“Despite the ongoing challenges in 2021, their outstanding individual performances throughout the season have entertained and captivated us all.

“These nominations recognise their outstanding dedication and are hugely deserved.”

Tom Parsons, Chief Executive of the GPA, said: “To be nominated for a PwC All-Star is special and congratulations to the 45 players who have had their individual performances recognised by the selection committee to whom I also want to say thanks. 

“Heartiest congratulations too, to the nominees for the PwC Hurler of the Year and the PwC Young Hurler of the Year. 

“To be on those shortlists given the many outstanding performances in 2021 is a great achievement in itself. 

“I also want to take the time to recognise all inter-county players, male and female, who provided us with much-needed entertainment against the backdrop of the pandemic this year. 

“What you have done for the morale of the country should not be underestimated.  Thank you.”

The nominations were chosen by a panel of Gaelic Games correspondents from across, print, radio, TV and digital media, chaired by Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy.

The PwC All-Star nominations in football will be released tomorrow.  The presentation of the PwC All-Star awards will take place on December 10 in a televised ceremony that will be in line with Covid-19 restrictions and will be confirmed in due course.

PwC All-Stars Hurling Nominations 2021

Goalkeepers

Patrick Collins (Cork)

Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)

Nickie Quaid (Limerick)

Defenders

Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Declan Hannon (all Limerick)

Tim O’Mahony, Seán O’Donoghue, Mark Coleman, Robert Downey (all Cork)

Calum Lyons, Kieran Bennett, Conor Prunty (all Waterford)

Huw Lalor, Paddy Deegan (all Kilkenny)

Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher (all Tipperary)

Rory Hayes (Clare)

Midfielders

Will O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan (all Limerick)

Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly (all Clare)

Jamie Barron (Waterford)

Paddy Purcell (Laois)

Forwards

Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Peter Casey, Seamus Flanagan, Aaron Gillane (all Limerick)

Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan, Shane Kingston, Jack O’Connor (all Cork)

Stephen Bennett, Austin Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson (all Waterford)

Eoin Cody, TJ Reid (Kilkenny) 

Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin)

Jason Forde (Tipperary)

Lee Chin (Wexford)

PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year nominees

Seán Finn, Kyle Hayes, Cian Lynch (all Limerick)

PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year nominees

Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Shane Barrett (Cork), Aidan McCarthy (Clare)

The post PwC All-Stars hurling nominations 2021 appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Click Here for Live scores for on Clare v Waterford
The match will be live on RTÉ One’s ‘The Sunday Game’.

The two teams meet in the Munster quarter-final with the winner of the clash facing Tipperary in the semi-finals.

The loser will get a second chance and will enter the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Clare is on a three-game win streak after a poor start to the National Hurling League season was salvaged with a show-stopping performance against Kilkenny on the final day being the highlight.

Waterford boasted an identical record of three wins to the Banner County but will want to iron out their defensive lapses if they are to get past Tony Kelly and co.

Kelly has once again underlined his importance to this Clare side with his performances so far this season.

A 20-point haul against Dublin is the standout in a list of standout performances.

Kelly’s six points from play in Parnell Park helped his side to a five-point win over the Dubliners, along with his 13 frees and 65.

The side’s performance against Kilkenny was impressive as it showed that this Clare team have other offensive weapons when Tony Kelly plays.

David Reidy, Aron Shanagher, Diarmuid Ryan and Aidan McCarthy starred alongside Kelly in a fantastic attacking display by the county.

A big criticism of Brian Lohan’s Clare side has always been their overreliance on Tony Kelly.

This year could be the year they break free from that, or at least begin to.

Aidan McCarthy has excelled for Clare this year as he led the line in Tony Kelly’s absence in the middle of the league campaign.

The Clare U-21 prospect has impressed after making the jump to senior level and had a fruitful game against Wexford after Tony Kelly went down.

McCarthy has not looked back and will be a danger for Waterford’s defenders this weekend.

Clare’s attackers will have a lot of opportunities to drive this point home against Waterford’s defence, which is yet to get going this season.

Waterford’s defence will need to be much better if they are to get past Lohan’s Clare.

The All-Ireland finalists have already conceded 13 goals this season, conceding three or more on three occasions.

Only Westmeath (20) conceded more in Division One and no other side conceded over nine.

Their defence has looked disorganised and in disarray so far this year, failing to pull it together after falling short in Croke Park last season.

Waterford are in for a long day if their defensive shape is anything like it was against Cork on the opening day of the National Hurling League.

In contrast, Clare maintained a positive points difference over their five games in the league, conceding as many goals as they scored (7).

The side’s defensive woes were a talking point before the 2021 season began but their improvement in attack has lowered the volume on that topic.

The triple-threat of Stephen Bennett, Dessie Hutchinson and Calum Lyons will give the Clare defence their all.

However, Waterford have struggled at times to connect defence and attack by creating problems for themselves in midfield.

They will need to be at their best to beat this in-form Clare side.

The Banner County’s faults in defence are not as negatively impactful as their often-one-man attack has been.

But, as mentioned above, that problem may be solved.

Team News

Clare

E Quilligan, R Hayes, C Cleary, P Flannagan. D Ryan, J Conlon, P Fitzpatrick. C Galvin, T Kelly. C Malone, D Reidy, R Taylor. I Galvin, A Shanagher, A McCarthy

Waterford 

B Nolan, S Fives, C Gleeson, S McNulty, C Lyons, I Daly, K Moran, A Gleeson, D Lyons, P Hogan, J Fagan, S Bennett, D Hutchinson, Sh Bennett, D Prendergast

Predicted Winner: Clare by 3

Betting

Waterford 4/7

Draw 9/1

Clare 13/8

A Twitter List by IrishScoresGAA

The post Munster Hurling Preview, Live scores & Team News : Clare v Waterford appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The six counties of Munster will go head-to-head for the Munster Cup.

The provincial finalists in 2020 – Tipperary and Cork – have earned byes to the semi-final.

The draw can be seen here.

Munster Quarter Finals

Limerick v Waterford

Limerick will host Waterford in the first of two quarter finals.

The winner will face last year’s finalists Cork on July 10th.

Limerick’s Gaelic football has had a promising start to the season, building on their impressive 2020.

In contrast, the new league format has flattered Waterford.

Billy Lee’s Limerick has gone from strength to strength over the past few years and saw themselves a game away from Division Two after some impressive performances.

The Treaty County got their revenge on Munster champions Tipperary after last year’s tight Munster semi-final loss.

However, they were unable to make it two promotions on the bounce as they fell to Rory Gallagher’s Derry.

Waterford was beaten convincingly by Division Four South’s top side Carlow.

A lifeless performance in Dungarvan was cushioned by a one-point win over Division Four Shield winners Wexford.

The slim victory saw Waterford in with a chance of promotion but those hopes faded quickly.

Antrim’s blazing start against the Deise saw Shane Ronayne’s side condemned to another year in the fourth tier.

Billy Lee’s Shannonsiders should ease through.

Prediction: Limerick by 5

Kerry v Clare

Kerry will welcome Clare in the other quarter final tie in Fitzgerald Stadium on the same day.

The winner of the tie will advance to face defending Munster champions Tipperary on July 10th.

Peter Keane’s Kerry side has started 2021 as they mean to go on with some fantastic showings in the National Football League.

A stellar second-half comeback against Dublin is the prize jewel in a magnificent crown.

The fluency of play and domination of the midfield and high-ball showed how good Peter Keane is as a tactician.

David Clifford has reached the next level of his game in 2021 with some fine attacking displays, most notably bagging a hat-trick against Galway.

Their opponents Clare had another bright season in Divsion Two.

A four-point loss to Mayo is indicative of the quality the side has.

Their one-point loss to Cork halted their push for first in Division Two South.

However, they have the opportunity to continue to build upon their recent growth.

Furthermore, David Tubridy broke the National Football League points record during the season.

Kerry will have too much in the canister for Clare to handle but the Banner have the chance to let Peter Keane and co. know that they’re serious.

Prediction: Kerry by 5

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First up on Saturday at 1:15pm is the meeting of Laois and Clare at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. This game will be broadcast on the GAA Go platform.

The second qualifier between Dublin and Cork will take place at Semple Stadium, Thurles at 3:45pm and will be shown on Sky Sports Mix.

Live updates on both these games can be found here.

The post Hurling qualifier round 1 fixtures confirmed. appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.