Deceased Casey named in Ring, Rackard and Meagher Team of the Year

The late Tyrone hurling star Damian Casey has been included at wing forward in the Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Team of the Year for 2022.

The 29-year-old died in a swimming pool accident last June.

Casey scored 0-14 when he claimed a second Nicky Rackard Cup with the Red Hands at Croke Park in May to add to his two Lory Meagher Cups and three National Leagues.

The Dungannon native, who represented Ireland in a number of shinty internationals against Scotland, is named on the team selection for the fourth successive year.

Casey is one of three Tyrone hurlers to be named with defenders Dermot Begley and Chris Kearns also honoured on a team made up of players from eight counties.

Christy Ring Cup champions Kildare have five players represented in goalie Paddy McKenna, defenders Rian Boran and the experienced Paul Divilly, with Brian Byrne and James Burke named in attack.

Former Mayo football All-Star Keith Higgins (pictured above), who captained the Green and Red to the Rackard Cup last year and reached the Ring final this season, is named in the Champion 15 for the second straight year.

Darren Geoghegan, scorer of 0-9 in the final, is the representative of Lory Meagher champions Louth with beaten finalists Longford represented by midfielder Paddy Lynam.

Derry's Mark Craig, Sligo’s Andy Kilcullen and Roscommon duo Daniel Glynn and Padraig Kelly complete the selection.

Champions 15 Selection

1 Paddy McKenna (Kildare/Christy Ring)

2 Dermot Begley (Tyrone/Nicky Rackard) 3 Rian Boran (Kildare/Christy Ring) 4 Mark Craig (Derry/Christy Ring)

5 Chris Kearns (Tyrone/Nicky Rackard) 6 Paul Divilly (Kildare/Christy Ring) 7 Padraig Kelly (Roscommon/Nicky Rackard)

8 Paddy Lynam (Longford/Lory Meagher) 9 Keith Higgins (Mayo/Christy Ring)

10 Brian Byrne