Limerick, Kilkenny, Clare, Wexford, Galway and Waterford are all represented on Michael Verney's June hurling All Stars.
The GAA writer with the Irish Independent picked his team on Friday's Lár Na Páirce. Reigning All Ireland champions Limerick secured six spots while Kilkenny and Clare got three each. Dessie Hutchinson was selected at corner forward. There was no room for David Fitzgerald from Clare or Munster final man of the match Seamus Flanagan.
With three games left in the All Ireland championship, the former Offaly defender believes that Tony Kelly, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearoid Hegarty are all contenders for Hurler of the Year. "People are talking about man marking Tony Kelly. If the man marker holds him to four or five points, he's doing a good job, that's the level Kelly's at. That Munster final display, particularly the first 40 or 45 minutes, and the Ennis game, just absolutely unmarkable. He's definitely in the mix. We haven't had a Hurler of the Year as a corner back in 30 years since Brian Corcoran in 1992. Barry Nash has probably reinvented what a corner back can do. I'd have Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearoid Hegarty in the mix too."
Michael Verney's June All Stars
1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
2. Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)
3. Mike Casey (Limerick)
4. Barry Nash (Limerick)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
6. Declan Hannon (Limerick)
7. Damien Reck (Wexford)
8. Ryan Taylor (Clare)
9. Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny)
10. Shane O'Donnell (Clare)
11. Tony Kelly (Clare)
12. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
13. Conor Whelan (Galway)
14. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
15. Dessie Hutchinson (Waterford)
Listen back to the full chat from Friday's Lár Na Páirce.
