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.

Tyrone’s camogie team missed out on silverware for the county while their Men’s football side went one step closer to the Sam Maguire.

The goals were crucial with two of them coming from Ciara Delaney, having been set up by player of the match Áine Charlton. Captain Helen O’Malley also raised a green flag but Tyrone almost pulled off a spectacular comeback, getting to within one of the westerners having trailed by 11 but they just could not get over the line.

Mayo led by 2-6 to 0-4 at half-time thanks to Delaney and O’Malley’s majors, the latter part of a run of 1-5 without reply as Tyrone failed to score in the second quarter. When Delaney finished after another strong run by Charlton 15 seconds after the restart, it seemed like curtains.

But with Reagan Fay in inspired form and bringing her tally to eight points, the Red Hand women rallied. Niamh McNulty’s goal after an excellent catch was a real boost but when it seemed like momentum was in their favour, Mayo dug deep and Orla Hession pointed to leave Tyrone needing a goal that they couldn’t get.

Meanwhile, champions Armagh, who beat Clare in their semi-final by 2-13 to 1-6 on Saturday, will play Wexford in the All-Ireland premier junior final at Croke Park on September 12, as a result of the Yellowbellies’ 3-18 to 0-8 victory over Roscommon.

Roscommon had two early chances but two wides resulted and once Wexford got to grips with the excellent opposition sweeper, Rachel Fitzmaurice by playing the wings, they began to make hay.

Megan Cullen got an eighth-minute goal and it was 1-2 to 0-0 at the water break. On the resumption, all the Wexford inside forwards, Emma Tompkins, Emma Codd and Lisa Firman registered points and  Ailis Neville scored to make it 2-7 to 0-1 at half-time.

The Roscommon point came from a long-distance free by Shauna Fallon just before the short whistle.

The Connacht side were awarded a penalty early in the second half but Fallon’s shot was too central and goalkeeper Lara O’Shea was able to make the stop.

With that, any hope of a spectacular comeback dissipated.

When Roscommon removed Fitzmaurice from her sweeping role as they needed to chase the game, it opened space and Wexford profited. Chloe Cashe, who had been kept to a point in the first half, got a goal at the end of an excellent move on 41 minutes and finished with 1-8.

Fitzmaurice and Niamh Watson tried hard for Roscommon but it was all about Wexford, Clodagh Jackman, Aideen Brennan, Cashe, Neville and Cullen among those to shine.

Elsewhere, the talented Áine Magill completed 24 hours she won’t forget in a hurry as she played for Antrim in the intermediate semi-final against Galway and then against Laois in the Tesco All-Ireland B semi final.

She up a star outing for Antrim in their win over Galway by scoring 1-3 from midfield as the Saffrons’ minors as they came out on top of a thriller against Laois by 3-19 to 3-12 to reach the Tesco All-Ireland B final.

Antrim will face Offaly in the final, who defeated Derry by 4-12 to 1-8 in the other semi-final.

The post Mayo Win Nancy Murray Cup After Two-Point Victory Over Tyrone appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Kerry native becomes the second inter-county manager to leave his post after Padraic Davis left the Longford job on Sunday.

The four-time All-Ireland winner’s Laois side rounded off a disappointing 2021 with a terrible second-half display against the Lake County.

His side managed only two points in the final 35 minutes of their season and blew a one-point lead they had on Westmeath at half-time.

Laois went from being up 1-08 (11) to 0-10 (10) to losing 3-20 (29) to 1-10 (13).

As there is no backdoor this year, Laois now have to look towards the 2022 season.

Their National Football League left a lot to be desired, with relegation to Division Three capping off a very poor campaign.

The loss to Westmeath only added to the pressure Quirke had come under.

The post Quirke Resigns As Laois Senior Football Manager appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

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.

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