Spring Stars: 2022 Hurling Team of the League

Anthony Daly and Liam Sheedy pick the best hurlers of the 2022 Allianz Hurling League campaign where Waterford dominate selection in a team representing four different counties.

A total of eight Deise players from their league winning side make the cut, along with three each from Cork and Kilkenny, with a single Wexford representative in the team.

The panel give special mention to Wexford trio Matthew O’Hanlon, Paudie Foley, Dee O’Keeffe, Dublin pair Danny Sutcliffe and Paddy Smyth, as well as Galway's Tom Monaghan and Robbie Glennon, who could all consider themselves unlucky to miss out.

Here is the team they settled on.

1 Shaun O'Brien (Waterford)

Anthony Daly: There was a lot of talk in Waterford that Stephen O’Keeffe should be back after the Ballygunner exploits, but Sean has done really well and settled in well, playing great stuff.

2 Conor Gleeson (Waterford)

Anthony Daly: Cork’s Shane Kingston tested him in the second half of the league final, but he’s been their go-to man-marker.

3 Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)

Anthony Daly: There are a raft of great full-backs around at the moment this guy has been top dog so far this year.

4 Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)

Anthony Daly: What a find he has been for Brian Cody. He’s been brilliant, man-marking some of the best forwards in the country and has come up with the goods in all the games.

5 Jack Fagan (Waterford)

Liam Sheedy: It was a great move by Liam Cahill to move him to the half-back line. Very effective throughout the league campaign, particularly in the final

6 Tadhg de Burca (Waterford)

Liam Sheedy: He orchestrates everything from Number 6; he minds the house but he also drives forward at every opportunity.

7 Ciaran Joyce (Cork)

Liam Sheedy: A young guy, from the Under-20s, and I think he