all-stars Hegarty, Bennett and Kelly up for top award as Treaty get 14 nominees

Gearóid Hegarty will face competition from Tony Kelly and Stephen Bennett for the PwC Hurler of the Year accolade when the vote goes to the inter-county playing body in the coming weeks.

For the second successive year, the nominees come from three different counties, with Kelly's sensational form in the early stages of the championship for Clare, when he scored 1-45 in four games, rightly gaining recognition.

Limerick's Tom Morrissey was almost in lockstep throughout the season with his half-forward colleague Hegarty, scoring 11 points between the All-Ireland semi-final and final, but misses out as Waterford's Bennett made slightly stronger claims.

As expected, Limerick lead the nominations with 14, with every one of their defenders in with a chance of an All-Star at the end of next month.

Cian Lynch has been selected at midfield - where Kelly is also chosen - giving an indication as to what the likely midfield partnership will be. But Kelly and Lynch both spent time in attack too and there is still the facility to select them there on the team itself.

Seamus Flanagan has been nominated as one of five Limerick forwards, with Darragh O'Donovan the only All-Ireland final starter not to make the cut.

Eight counties are represented, with Waterford getting 10 nominations, Galway seven and Leinster champions Kilkenny just five - with Cillian Buckley somewhat unlucky to miss out.

Clare have four nominations including goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan who joins the two frontrunners, Nicky Quaid and Stephen O'Keeffe. Rory Hayes and Cathal Malone are also included, in addition to Kelly.

Dublin's Donal Burke is recognised at this stage for his scoring contributions against Laois and Kilkenny while Mark Coleman and Shane Kingston are Cork's representatives.

Michael Breen's impact at midfield for Tipperary against Cork and Galway earns him one of two Tipperary nominations, along with Ronan Maher.

Teams from the Joe McDonagh Cup and a 'Champions' team, comprising players from the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups will also be named next month.

PwC All-Star Hurling nominations 2020

Goalkeepers - Stephen O'Keeffe (Waterford), Nickie Quaid (Limerick), Eibhear Quilligan (Clare).

Defenders - Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes (all Limerick); Conor Prunty, Shane McNulty, Calum Lyons, Tadhg de Burcá (all Waterford); Dáithí Burke, Aidan Harte, Pádraic Mannion (all Galway); Conor Delaney, Pádraig Walsh (both Kilkenny); Rory Hayes (Clare), Mark Coleman (Cork), Ronan Maher (Tipperary).

Midfielders - Will O'Donoghue, Cian Lynch (both Limerick), Jamie Barron (Waterford), Tony Kelly (Clare), Michael Breen (Tipperary), Conor Browne (Kilkenny).

Forwards - Gearóid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy (all Limerick); Stephen Bennett, Dessie Hutchinson, Austin Gleeson, Jack Fagan (all Waterford); Brian Concannon, Joe Canning, Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion (all Galway); TJ Reid, John Donnelly (both Kilkenny); Donal Burke (Dublin); Cathal Malone (Clare); Shane Kingston (Cork)

PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year nominees Jake Morris (Tipperary), Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Iarlaith Daly (Waterford).

PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year nominees Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick), Tony Kelly (Clare), Stephen Bennett (Waterford).

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Online Editors