15 for 30 is a weekly GAA series where we ask the public to vote for the best teams from different counties from 1990 until 2019. We will be alternating between hurling and football each week. The votes will be tallied over the course of the week revealing the county's top XV, as voted by you. With the new poll launching every Monday, 15 for 30 also features a podcast with a personality from within the county in question to give their best 15 and their thinking behind the selection.
So far, we've picked the Waterford hurling team and the best Donegal and Meath football teams. It's time for our fourth installment and we're back with hurling, focusing on Tipperary players from the last 30 years. Tipperary are the most successful team we've tackled so far, winning five All-Irelands between 1991 and 2019 and a total of 75 All Stars during that period.
This week, we spoke to former Tipperary midfielder, All-Ireland winner and two-time Al-Star Shane McGrath about his selection.
McGrath played for Tipp from 2006 until 2015, and was a key member of the 2010 All-Ireland winning team, and the Tipp team that rivalled Kilkenny for four years at the corner of the last decade, winning four Munster titles in five years and playing in four All-Ireland finals in six years.
That's just one of the great teams that voters will have to choose from in their Tipperary 15 for 30 though, with further All-Ireland wins in 1991, 2001, 2016 and last year.
Shane's selection reflects the vast talent that has come out of the county over the entire span of the 30 year criteria we've laid out for this series.
You can listen and subscribe to the full podcast here, or listen below, and you can vote for your Tipperary 15 for 30 below. The winning team will be revealed on Saturday.
You can vote on your team below until Saturday, or email your team to thegaffer@balls.ie, or message us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Shane McGrath's 15 for 30:
1. Brendan Cummins
Goalkeeper - 1993 - 2013
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2001, 2010
Munster Championship: 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
National League: 1994, 1999, 2001, 2008
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 1995
All-Stars: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010
"Brendan's career speaks for itself. Five All Stars, two All-Irelands, he made 73 appearances for Tipp. It's the highest ever for Tipp. He also has nine puck fádas, which is a phenomenal achievement. It's the discipline of the guy."
2. Cathal Barrett
Cornerback - 2014 - present
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2016, 2019
Munster Championship: 2015, 2016
Young Hurler of the Year: 2014
All-Stars: 2016, 2019
What Shane said:
"Confidence is something he doesn't lack but I love guys with confidence when they back it up on the pitch. Cathal did that from day dot when he came in. He's only 27, he's got two All-Irelands, two All Stars and Young Hurler of the Year. He's a phenomenal talent, he trains phenomenally hard."
3. Paul Curran
Fullback - 2001 - 2015
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2001, 2010
Munster Championship: 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
National League: 2008
All-Stars: 2010, 2011
4. Mickey Cahill
Cornerback - 2009 - present
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2010, 2016
Munster Championship: 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 2010
All-Ireland Minor Championship: 2006, 2007
All-Stars: 2011
5. Brendan Maher
Wingback - 2009 - present
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2010, 2016, 2019
Munster Championship: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 2010
All-Ireland Minor Championship: 2006, 2007
Young Hurler of the Year: 2010
All-Stars: 2010, 2014, 2019
What Shane said:
"He's Mr. Versatile, he can do at anything. They call him the 'King' in Borris because he's just brilliant at everything. Music, Irish dancing, anything. I was lucky to play midfield with him. Three All-Irelands, three All Stars, Young Hurler of the Year. He was probably Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year."
6. Conor O'Mahony
Centreback - 2005 - 2015
Honours:
all-Ireland Championship: 2010
Munster Championship: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015
National League: 2008
All-Stars: 2008, 2009
7. Padraic Maher
Wingback - 2005 - 2015
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2010, 2016, 2019
Munster Championship: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 2010
All-Ireland Minor Championship: 2006, 2007
All-Stars: 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
8. Tommy Dunne
Midfield - 1993 - 2005
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2001
Munster Championship: 1993, 2001
National League: 1994, 1999, 2001
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 1995
Hurler of the Year: 2001
All-Stars: 1997, 1999, 2001
What Shane said:
"One of the greatest midfielders in the game. Delighted to see he made the Sunday Game team there recently. Tommy is unbelievable. His ability to flick a ball over the bar from 65 just goes down to pure natural talent. His natural ability was unbelievable. A leader amongst men, really, in 2001. And for his club as well: he has ten county titles with Toomevara.
Tommy was the type of player, I think, who might do very well in the modern game because of his physique and the way he moved. He was starting off in 93, 94, when hurling was different. It was more about the physicality and not more about the tactical side of things. But Tommy has come in now [as coach] and tactically he is so aware."
9. Noel McGrath
Midfield - 2009 - present
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2010, 2016, 2019
Munster Championship: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 2010
All-Ireland Minor Championship: 2006, 2007
Young Hurler of the Year: 2009
All-Stars: 2009, 2010, 2019
10. Michael Cleary
Wing forward/corner forward - 1988 - 1997
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 1989, 1991
Munster Championship: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993
National League: 1994
All-Stars: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
11. Lar Corbett
Centre forward/wing forward/corner forward - 2001 - 2015
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2001, 2010
Munster Championship: 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015
National League: 2001, 2008
Hurler of the Year: 2010
All-Stars: 2009, 2010, 2011
12. John Leahy
Wing forward/midfield - 1988 - 2003
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 1989, 1991, 2001
Munster Championship: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001
National League: 1988, 1994, 1999, 2001
All-Ireland U21 Championship: 1989
All-Stars: 1991, 1994, 1997
13. Eoin Kelly
Corner forward/ full forward - 2000 - 2014
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2001, 2010
Munster Championship: 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
National League: 2001, 2008
Young Hurler of the Year: 2000, 2001
All-Stars: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010
What Shane said:
"He's on every greatest hurling team. When they pick a new team of the millennium, this guy will have to feature. Six All Stars, two All-Irelands. I was on a couple of the teams for a couple of years and we weren't winning anything. But Eoin was still winning All Stars. Form is temporary, class is forever and that's what Eoin Kelly is for me."
14. Seamus Callanan
Full forward - 2008 - present
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 2010, 2016, 2019
Munster Championship: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
National League: 2008
All-Ireland Minor Championship: 2006
Hurler of the Year: 2019
All-Stars: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
What Shane said:
"Seamus needs to be mentioned in the same breath as the Eoins, the Nickys, the Pat Foxes of the world. He's won three All-Irelands. He has four All Stars, he won Hurler of the Year. He was nominated four times.
Seamy's probably about 6'4", maybe 6'5". He's a huge guy. He's all there as well. He has the full package for full forward. He has vision, skill, strength. The lads inside ... hated marking him because he could do anything with the ball. He could just take it around you, flick it over your head for no reason but because he could."
15. Nicky English
Corner forward - 1982 - 1996
Honours:
All-Ireland Championship: 1989, 1991
Munster Championship: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993
National League: 1988, 1994
All-Ireland U21 Championship:
All-Ireland Minor Championship:
Hurler of the Year: 1989
All-Stars: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 1988, 1989
