The 2018 Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the Year has been released, ahead of the second-annual GAA Minor Star Awards.
After a thrilling final between Galway and Kilkenny, the Tribesmen came out on top to become Electric Ireland GAA Minor Hurling Champions for the second year in a row.
It was a final they entered as favourites, but found themselves trailing an extremely talented Kilkenny team with 25 minutes to go. However this is a special Galway side, and they rallied together to close the deficit and claim their county's fourth Electric Ireland GAA Minor Hurling Championship victory since the turn of the decade.
With some incredibly gifted players on display in this year's competition, narrowing down the 15 players to take their place on the Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the Year was never going to be easy. That responsibility fell to a selection panel which included former Kilkenny hurler and eight-time All-Ireland winner Michael Fennelly and four-time All-Star former Galway defender Ollie Canning.
In total, five counties have been represented in the team. All-Ireland champions Galway have five players, with beaten finalists Kilkenny having four players. Munster champions Tipperary have three representatives, while Leinster champions Dublin have two, with the final place going to a Limerick player.
Michael Fennelly had this to say about the team:
Honouring players at this level is so important as it may be the only time that they pull on a County jersey so it’s great to be able to mark that occasion for them. These players have performed exceptionally throughout the season, giving it their all at every match.
Their talent is a testament to the families and communities that have supported them on their journey, and they’ve earned their place on the Team of the Year.
The Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the Year will be celebrated alongside the Minor Football Team of the Year at the Minor Star Awards on Saturday 29 September. The Player of the Year in each code will be also be revealed that day, and the Electric Ireland Special Merit Award will be given out.
Here's the Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the Year:
- Patrick Rabbitte – Galway, (St. Mary’s)
- Conor Whelan – Tipperary, (CJ Kickhams)
- Shane Jennings – Galway, (Ballinasloe)
- Jamie Young – Kilkenny, (O’Loughlin Gaels)
- Darragh Maher – Kilkenny, (St. Lachtain’s)
- Seán Neary – Galway, (Castlegar)
- Seán Phelan – Tipperary, (Nenagh Eire OG)
- Conor Kelly – Kilkenny, (O’Loughlin Gaels)
- Donal Leavy – Dublin, (Naomh Olaf)
- James Devaney – Tipperary, (Borris-Ileigh)
- Cathal O’Neill – Limerick, (Crecora-Manister)
- Ciarán Brennan – Kilkenny, (Bennettsbridge)
- Luke Swan – Dublin, (Castleknock)
- Donal O’Shea – Galway, (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
- Dean Reilly – Galway, (Pádraig Pearses)
The Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards will take place in Croke Park on September 29th where the overall Hurler of the Year will be announced.
