SIX Ulster men have been selected on the Christy Ring Cup Champion 15 - and eight on the Nicky Rackard Cup equivalent, with at least one representative from every northern county apart from Cavan.
The awards recognise the achievements in the second and third tiers of championship hurling, with accolades also going to the fourth-tier Lory Meagher Cup. The players were selected on the back of their performances during their participation in their respective championships.
Antrim, who lost the Ring final in a replay against Meath, have three players selected, namely Simon McCrory, Eoghan Campbell, and Ciaran Clarke. They are joined by Down duo John McManus and Caolan Taggart and Derry's Oisín McCloskey.
More than half of the Rackard team comes from the north, with three from Armagh - Cahal Carvill, Ciaran Clifford, and Declan Coulter (Armagh) - a duo from Donegal, Danny Cullen and Pádraig Doherty, plus Damian Casey (Tyrone), Ryan Bogue (Fermanagh) and Connor McKenna (Monaghan).
The awards winners will be presented with their awards this Friday evening in the Convention Centre in Dublin on the occasion of the GAA GPA Allstars. A player of the year will also be selected on the evening for each competition.
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail said: “I congratulate all recipients of these awards following their stellar performances during the summer.
“These players and the teams they play for do not always attract the attention or the credit their skills and contribution to hurling deserve and these awards are a tacit recognition of the standards they have set for themselves.
“I laud the displays and the efforts of all of those named and hope this acknowledgement will further bolster their desire for future honours.”
CHRISTY RING CHAMPION 15
Damien Healy, Adam Gannon, James Toher, Shane McGann (all Meath), Simon McCrory, Eoghan Campbell, Ciaran Clarke (all Antrim), John Doran, Gerry Keegan (both Kildare), John McManus, Caolan Taggart (both Down), OisÍn McCloskey (Derry), Luke Maloney (Wicklow), Tomás Lawrence (London), Micheál Kelly (Roscommon).
NICKY RACKARD CHAMPION 15
Brian Hunt, Kenny Feeney, Cathal Freeman, Joseph McManus (all Mayo), Cahal Carvill, Ciaran Clifford, Declan Coulter (all Armagh), Patrick Sheridan, Killian O'Flynn (both Fingal), Danny Cullen, Pádraig Doherty (both Donegal), Damian Casey (Tyrone), Ryan Bogue (Fermanagh), Patrick Farrington (Longford), Connor McKenna (Monaghan).
LORY MEAGHER CHAMPION 15
Andrew Mackin, Diarmuid Murphy, Andrew McCrave, Shane Callan, Mark Wallace (all Louth), Brian O'Loughlin, Liam Reidy, Cormac Behan, Keith Raymond (all Sligo), Colm Moreton, Zak Moradi (both Leitrim), Shane Morrissey, Pádraic Crehan (both Warwickshire), Séamus Richardson, David Cahillane (both Lancashire).
