POLL | Who should be crowned the 2022 Hurler of the Year

Limerick brought down the curtains on an epic 2022 season on Sunday with a third successive All-Ireland final triumph.

For the third year on the trot, it was John Kiely’s Limerick left standing tall when the dust settled on All-Ireland final day in Croke Park.

Try as they might, Kilkenny couldn’t pull ahead of a sensational Limerick who retained their title with a 1-31 to 2-26 victory.

After the dominance of 2021 where they won their four championship games with an average winning margin of almost ten points, this year it was their grit that saw them over the line.

There were standout performers all over the field from the men in green and that is reflected in Sunday Game Team of the Year that was picked in the wake of the game.

This also translates to the Hurler of the Year odds with seven Limerick players in the eight man shortlist on Paddy Power.

They are Diarmaid Byrnes (1/10), Barry Nash (6/1), Aaron Gillane (14/1), Gearoid Hegarty (25/1), Declan Hannon (25/1), Sean Finn (50/1) and Kyle Hayes (50/1) with Kilkenny’s TJ Reid (16/1) the only other player to be given odds.

Patrickswell’s Byrnes is looking like an unbackable favourite such is his price but the others will have hopes of claiming the award that has gone back to Limerick in three of the last four years.

Diarmaid Byrnes was the Hurler of the Month for April with powerful scoring performances against Cork and Waterford and he hasn’t relented since. He finished with 0-36 for the year, smashing the record for most scored but a defender in a championship.

Barry Nash had his best year in a green jersey after winning a maiden All-Star in 2021. He is guaranteed for a second successive award and is worthy of Hurler of the Year shouts as a key part of the Limerick juggernaut, adding a new element to their play from corner back.

Aaron Gillane was the favourite for the award prior to the final but was held well by Huw Lawlor. Nonetheless, he still managed to hit over three from play in winning his fourth All-Ireland medal. Finished the year as the top scorer from play and was named in four out five Teams of the Week during the course of the season.

TJ Reid continues to prove that age is just a number as the Kilkenny superstar shone despite nearing his 35th birthday. In the final, he was their go to man and despite not scoring from play, he was a constant threat. Finished as the championship’s top scorer.

All-Ireland final day has become somewhat of a second home to Gearoid Hegarty who produced a third sensational performance on the trot in the biggest game of the year which has seen him shoot up the odds. The 2020 Hurler of the Year bagged 1-5 against Kilkenny and was the difference between the teams. Throughout the year, Hegarty was a constant influence for Limerick and while he was quiet in the semi-final, he is worthy of being in the running.

Hegarty is level in the betting odds with Limerick’s record breaking captain Declan Hannon who produced his best year for his county. Unparalleled in terms of centre-backs, the Adare man makes it look so easy as the conductor of the team chipping in with points in the All-Ireland and Munster finals.

Sean Finn and Kyle Hayes were both in the shortlist last summer and while they were somewhat slow off the mark this time around, they really kicked into gear as the season went on where they were flawless once getting to Croke Park. At 50s it’s hard to see either make the final three but their contributions must be recognised.

Have your say below as to who should be the Hurler of the Year!

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