Former Déise captain Brian Flannery believes that Waterford defender Calum Lyons deserves his first All Star in the half back line after shooting 1-6 from play in the 2020 championship.
“I might be going slightly against the grain but the player I’m going to select in the six jersey is Calum Lyons of Ballyduff Lower. I just think his performances all year, even going back to the league games with Waterford, he had a brilliant year. The goal he scored against Cork had a huge impact on Waterford’s season. It would have been difficult to go on and win that game without Calum Lyons having scored that goal. His performances all through, his ability to score, his attacking nature, his brilliance in the air as well, we saw a lot of that in the All Ireland semi final against Kilkenny. I would find it difficult to leave Calum Lyons off it, I would have to find a place for him in the team."
Flannery found room for four Waterford players in his chosen fifteen (Stephen O’Keeffe, Calum Lyons, Jamie Barron and Stephen Bennett). League, Munster and All Ireland champions Limerick led the way with eight while Galway, Kilkenny and Clare got one each.
Banner talisman Tony Kelly gets his vote for Hurler of the Year. He shot 1-53 in four championship games including 17 points against Limerick and 1-15 against Wexford. “Maybe again I’m going against the grain a little bit! For pure ability and man of the match performances day in, day out, for me Tony Kelly is Hurler of the Year. He is one of the great players of this generation."
Brian Flannery’s 2020 All Star Hurling Team
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Waterford)
2. Sean Finn (Limerick)
3. Daithi Burke (Galway)
4. Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
6. Calum Lyons (Waterford)
7. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
8. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
9. William O’Donoghue (Limerick)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
12. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
13. Stephen Bennett (Waterford)
14. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
15. Tony Kelly (Clare)
Listen back to the full All Stars piece with Brian Flannery from Friday's Lár Na Páirce.
Listen to "Lár Na Páirce 2020 Hurling All Stars" on Spreaker.
