GAA: Jamesie O'Connor's team of the year
Friday 8 September 2017 12:42, UK
There are a couple of big calls in my hurling team of the year but that's the beauty of this game.
Some people see different things in different players. It was a super year for hurling, the championship was thrown wide open and, at the end of it all, here is my top 15. I hope you get as much enjoyment dissecting, disagreeing and approving as I did coming up with the side.
Anthony Nash
The goalkeeper who influenced games the most this year was Nash. He gets the nod because his puck-outs were game-defining, his saves were crisp, and he could mix long with short deliveries and still create space and score for his team-mates.
Noel Connors
The old dog for the hard road, Noel kept Conor Whelan to 0-1 in the All-Ireland final and he limited Alan Cadogan to just three possessions in the All-Ireland semi-final. He was rock solid for Waterford, a hugely effective man marker and I rate him massively.
Daithi Burke
Daithi was rock solid, physical, dominant and he gave Galway a real sense of stability - one that they haven't had in years at the core of their defence, before he came on the scene, at least. He didn't put a foot wrong all year.
Conor Gleeson
Surprised? Just look back at who Conor marked this year. He didn't give Conor McDonald or Richie Hogan a sniff and he completely curtailed Conor Lehane. Conor might not necessarily have played all year at corner-back but he did spend time there during the season. He marked Alan Cadogan too in the first match and he was a huge loss for the final.
Padraic Mannion
Excellent for Galway and a guy into his third year on the county scene. You can see he's comfortable at that level and also that he prefers the freedom of wing to corner. He had a great Leinster final and he was very good against Tipp too.
Gearoid McInerney
I wondered early on if this guy was good enough to be centre-back but I know the answer now! He's just matured so much and, if anything, he loves the responsibility given to him. He has relished the job of marking players like Bonner Maher and Aussie Gleeson.
Padraic Maher
It was a toss of a coin between Mark Coleman, brilliant against Tipp, Waterford and Paudie Maher who was class all year. Against Waterford, Mark got a schooling from Brick in the All-Ireland semi so Padraic was probably more consistent - only just.
Kevin Moran
Kevin did not have his best hour versus Cork in the Munster championship but after that he was outstanding. He limited Mick Fennelly, was man of the match against Wexford, had three massive points against Cork, scored 1-2 in the final and ran himself into the ground. He was a great captain.
Jamie Barron
My Hurler of the Year.
Against Kilkenny in extra time all those doubts were there in the team and he single-handledly won that match. He was very good against Wexford. Outstanding, too, against Cork where he got 2-1 from the middle of field. I think he was sick the week of the All-Ireland final and still got two points. He gave his heart and soul.
Joe Cooney
Joe was probably more consistent than David Burke who misses out on my team. Against Wexford, Joe and Conor Cooney ran the show with Joe Canning not firing and Conor Whelan well contained.
In the semi-final and final, the amount of ground he covered was unreal - he tracks back and helps out defensively. He got his few points in the final, set up scores too.
Joe Canning
Joe didn't have his best game against Wexford because he was carrying an injury but in the last 20 minutes against Tipp he put in a massive shift and really delivered when the pressure was greatest. He set the tone in the final by riding a few tackles from the throw-in and sending the ball over the bar. Like DJ and Kilkenny, when he gets a score it is huge. When Canning is going well it gives the team a lift.
Brick Walsh
What a year the 34-year-old has had! He got a goal against Kilkenny, set up another and won ball all day long against Wexford where he ran the show for the first 20 minutes. Brick sets up scores, wins frees, and in the semi-final he got a crucial score to put Waterford on front foot. He also had some performance on Mark Coleman. Class.
Pat Horgan
Outstanding for Cork all year, especially in the semi-final when he really took the responsibility on and carried Cork on his shoulders. He was a leader and people cannot question him this year on that front.
Conor Cooney
Conor Cooney worked so hard and was brilliant in the Leinster final. He was very good against Dublin too, hit a fine 40 minute patch against Tipp and managed three points in the final.
Conor Whelan
He had a great battle with Noel Connors but had a fine semi-final scoring 0-4 and creating more. In some of the earlier games he was almost unmarkable and he completes a fine year with a place on this team!
