Shane O'Donnell shines brightest as Sunday Game Team of the Year is named

The Liam MacCarthy Cup is part of the Clare entourage for the evening but how many players at the winning banquet will force their way onto the Sunday Game Team of the Year?

In recent years, this team has been a sea of green. This year, with Limerick far from Croker while the biggest prize was being handed out, the Munster champions have only two in the team.

Everyone else that's been selected played their part in this afternoon's absurdly tense All-Ireland final.

Leinster hurling stalwarts look away now, Munster hurling triumphalists can bask in the glow.

Nickie Quaid (Limerick)

The Limerick goalkeeper was pipped to this spot by Eoin Murphy last year, the Kilkenny keeper nabbing the All-Star as well, his famous save from Shane O'Donnell in the dying minutes of the semi-final tipping the balance.

But it's Quaid who gets the nod this year, ironically after a season in which Limerick came up short. The Effin keeper collected his seventh Munster SHC title this summer and shone in particular in the two victories over Clare, pulling off a stunning stop from David Reidy in Ennis and at the near post from Aidan McCarthy in the Munster final.

Adam Hogan (Clare)

In only his second year in the Clare starting side, the Feakle corner back has already emerged as one of the most stickiest defenders in the game.

Especially notable was the second half display against Kilkenny, when he held Eoin Cody scoreless after a trying opening 35 minutes.

Shipped an early yellow card in the final against Cork but stayed the right side of the law afterwards, delivering another bravura display in the corner as Clare kept the much-vaunted Cork full-forward line on a tight leash.

Eoin Downey (Cork)

The second member of the full-back line born in 2003. The