This year's GAA GPA hurling All Stars nominations have been announced, and Kilkenny and Galway lead the way with an impressive 12 nominations for each team.
Waterford, who were the league champions, are right behind with 11 nominations, followed by Tipperary who have seven. Cork, Dublin and Clare also all feature with a nomination each.
A total of nine of last year's All Star side are in contention to make the team again this year, including T.J. Reid, Richie Hogan and Séamus Callanan, all of whom are also in the running for the coveted Player of the Year award.
Galway's Cathal Mannion and Jason Flynn are up for the Young Player of the Year award after they both had outstanding seasons, along with Tadhg de Búrca of Waterford.
The list of nominations in full is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Colm Callanan (Galway), Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny), Darren Gleeson (Tipperary).
Defenders: Daithí Burke (Galway), Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny), Joey Holden (Kilkenny), Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), Pádraic Walsh (Kilkenny), Johnny Coen (Galway), Iarla Tannion (Galway), Pádraig Mannion (Galway), Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny), Pádraic Maher (Tipperary), Cathal Barrett (Tipperary), James Barry (Tipperary), Noel Connors (Waterford), Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford), Shane Fives (Waterford), Austin Gleeson (Waterford), Barry Coughlan (Waterford), Philip Mahony (Waterford).
Centrefielders: Andrew Smith (Galway), David Burke (Galway), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny), Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny), Kevin Moran (Waterford), Jamie Barron (Waterford).
Forwards: Tony Kelly (Clare), Séamus Harnedy (Cork), Mark Schutte (Dublin), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Jason Flynn (Galway), Jonathan Glynn (Galway), Joe Canning (Galway), Conor Whelan (Galway), Ger Aylward (Kilkenny), TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), Brendan Maher (Tipperary), John O’Dwyer (Tipperary), Séamus Callanan (Tipperary), Colin Dunford (Waterford), Maurice Shanahan (Waterford), Michael Walsh (Waterford).
Player of the Year: TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), Séamus Callanan (Tipperary).
Young Player of the Year: Jason Flynn (Galway), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford).
All of the awards winners will receive their prizes on the evening of Friday, November 6th, in the National Convention Centre in Dublin, when the final team will be announced.
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