Limerick, Kilkenny and Clare dominate 2022 All-Star hurling team

Limerick's stranglehold on the PwC GAA/GPA All-Star hurling team has loosened somewhat, down to seven from last year's record-breaking dozen, but it was still a banner evening for the western seaboard.

Limerick, Clare (three) and Galway (one) make up more than two-thirds of the selection, with Kilkenny (four) the only other county to contribute to the 2022 team of the year.

Goalkeeper Nickie Quaid, Hurler of the Year nominees Barry Nash and Diarmaid Byrnes, captain Declan Hannon, Gearóid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes and Aaron Gillane are the Limerick contingent.

This means Sean Finn misses out on a fifth straight All-Star, but it's hard to argue with the inclusion of Kilkenny duo Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor in the full-back line. Adrian Mullen and Hurler of the Year nominee TJ Reid make up the Cats quartet.

Clare are represented by midfielder David Fitzgerald, the resurgent Shane O'Donnell and four-time All-Star Tony Kelly.

Padraic Mannion was the sole Galway representative, at wing-back, and with only four counties represented there was no historic second All-Star for Westmeath.

Centre-forward Killian Doyle was the first hurling nominee from the Lake County since 1986, when David Kilcoyne won their first and only All-Star to date.

1. Nickie Quaid (Limerick)

It wasn't quite at the level of Dublin disatisfaction with Stephen Cluxton's repeated exclusion, but if the near flawless Quaid had stayed on a single All-Star award for much longer there would have been grumbles out of the Mid-West. Second only to Eoin Murphy in terms of shot-stopping, Quaid's ability to marshal a defence and distribute the ball is without peer.

2. Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)

As debut seasons go, this one wasn't bad. The 22-year-old O'Loughlin Gaels man made his name this