AS expected, the 2017 All-Star team is dominated by Galway players.
The Tribesmen won their first All-Ireland since 1988 with their victory over Waterford in September, and as a result, seven of their men have made it on to the GAA/GPA’s PwC All-Stars team that was selected in Croke Park on Wednesday.
A press release issued by the GAA read as follows.
"All-Ireland champions Galway have taken the lion’s share of the spoils on the 2017 PwC All-Star hurling team for 2017.
The GAA/GPA’s PwC All-Stars were selected at Croke Park on Wednesday, where the Tribesmen were awarded seven coveted places on this year’s selection – their highest representation since they won their previous Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1988.
The team is broken down between Galway (7), Waterford (5), Cork (2) and Tipperary (1).
Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe is one of six first-time PwC All-Star winners.
In defence, Padraic Maher from Tipperary collects his fifth award and leaves him one behind Premier County legends Nicky English and Eoin Kelly, who each won six All-Stars.
Midfield is notable in that Jamie Barron (Waterford) and David Burke (Galway) are selected as PwC All-Stars for the second consecutive season.
In attack, Galway’s Joe Canning has been selected at centre-forward, picking up his fourth All-Star in the process.
Another player collecting his fourth All-Star is Déise wing forward Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh. However, this is his first award in the attack, having been selected at midfield in 2007 and centre back in 2009 and 2010."
The All-Star hurling team in full is:
GOALKEEPER
1 - Stephen O’Keeffe (Waterford) – First-time All-Star
DEFENDERS
2 - Padraic Mannion (Galway) – First-time All-Star
3 - Daithí Burke (Galway) – Third-time winner. Previously won in 2015 & 16
4 - Noel Connors (Waterford) – Third-time winner. Previously won in 2010 & 2015
5 - Padraic Maher (Tipperary) – Five-time winner. Previously won in 2009, ‘11/’14/’16
6 - Gearóid McInerney (Galway) – First-time All-Star
7 - Mark Coleman (Cork) – First time All-Star
MIDFIELDERS
8 - Jamie Barron (Waterford) – Two-time All-Star. Previously won in 2016
9- David Burke (Galway) – Four-time All-Star. Previously won in 2012/’15/’16
FORWARDS
10 - Kevin Moran (Waterford) – Two-time All-Star. Previously won in 2012
11 - Joe Canning (Galway) – Four-time All-Star. Previously won in 2008/’09/’12
12 - Michael Walsh (Waterford) – Four-time All-Star. Previously won in 2007/’09/’10
13 - Conor Whelan (Galway) – First-time All-Star
14 - Conor Cooney (Galway) – First-time All-Star
15 - Patrick Horgan (Cork) – Two-time All-Star. Previously won in 2013
