Finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary dominate GPA’s team of the year

By John Riordan

Friday, October 30, 2009

ALL-IRELAND finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary dominate the Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year for 2009, winning 13 of the 15 available places between them.

PJ Ryan, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrell, Tommy Walsh, Michael Rice, Eddie Brennan, Henry Shefflin and Eoin Larkin were nominated for Kilkenny.

Conor O’Mahony, Padraic Maher, Shane McGrath, Seamus Callanan and Lar Corbett got the nod for Tipperary.

The remaining places are filled by Galway’s Ollie Canning and Waterford’s John Mullane.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Hurling Selection Committee, Donal O’ Grady, said: "Being recognised by your fellow players is a wonderful honour for any hurler and I would like to congratulate the 15 chosen on this year’s Opel GPA Hurling Team.

As a committee we selected our three most deserving nominees for each position along with six midfielders, and the players then made the ultimate choice."

Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) said: "Congratulations to the 2009 Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year. Given Kilkenny’s historic achievement this year it’s no surprise that they have been acknowledged by their fellow players and thus dominate the Opel GPA selection. However, Tipperary’s significant contribution to the campaign is also reflected in the line-up. I would like to thank all the players who voted and our selection committee for their work throughout the season. Thanks to Opel for their unrivalled support for the Gaelic Players Awards."

Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland, said: "We at Opel are proud to recognise and reward the contributions of the 15 individuals named on the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year for Hurling during the course of the 2009 Championship. We look forward to meeting the team and announcing the Hurler of the Year at the Opel GPA Awards 2009 Gala Night on Friday, 6th November in the Citywest Hotel."

2009 Opel Gaelic team of the Year for Hurling: PJ Ryan (Kilkenny); O Canning (Galway), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), J Tyrell (Kilkenny); T Walsh (Kilkenny), C O’Mahony (Tipperary), P Maher (Tipperary); S McGrath (Tipperary), M Rice (Kilkenny); E Brennan (Kilkenny), S Callanan (Tipperary), E Larkin (Kilkenny); J Mullane (Waterford), H Shefflin (Kilkenny), L Corbett (Tipperary).

Nominees for Opel GPA Player Of The Year For Hurling: Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny); Lar Corbett (Tipperary); John Mullane (Waterford).

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, October 30, 2009