Assessing the Hurler of the Year candidates ahead of the All-Ireland final

There is only one game remaining in the 2022 Hurling Championship, the All-Ireland final.

When the dust settles on Sunday evening, the winners of the 2022 All-Ireland senior hurling championship will bask in the glory that comes with lifting Liam.

Limerick are seeking three in a row while Kilkenny are aiming to further themselves at the top of the roll of honour with their first since 2015.

Limerick are favourites for the game, but have been reeled in somewhat by Kilkenny who were the dominant team in the semi-finals.

The Cats also own Limerick’s last defeat in the championship, their meeting in 2019.

Sunday’s game will also go a long way in determining the Hurler of the Year award, a prize that has gone to Limerick three times in the last four years.

Below we look at the bookies favourites and weigh up their credentials ahead of the biggest game of the year.

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Hurler of the Year Odds (Paddy Power)

• Aaron Gillane 5/1
• Diarmaid Byrnes 9/2
• TJ Reid 9/2
• Barry Nash 5/1
• Adrian Mullen 13/2
• Sean Finn 12/1
• Kyle Hayes 14/1
• Mikey Butler 14/1
• Gearoid Hegarty 20/1
• Declan Hannon 25/1

#1 | Aaron Gillane (Limerick and Patrickswell)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, 2x All-Star (2019 & ’20)

The current favourite at 5/1, Aaron Gillane has produced his best year in the green of Limerick and is rightly favoured to win the award. He has bagged 3-40 (22f) in five games en route to becoming Limerick’s highest ever championship scorer.

Another big game, like he had the last time he faced Kilkenny, and Patrickswell will have its second ever and second successive HOTY.

=2 | Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick and Patrickswell)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, 2x All-Star (2020 & ’21)

Speaking of Patrickswell, if not Gillane, it is very possible the city side will retain the Hurler of the Year award such has been Diarmaid Byrnes’ form. Has taken over the long range free duties and hasn’t missed a beat, racking up 0-30 from wing back, an incredible tally.

The April Hurler of the Month, doesn’t neglect his defensive work and alongside Declan Hannon and Dan Morrissey, they have been Limerick’s launchpad.

=2 | TJ Reid (Kilkenny and Ballyhale Shamrocks)

7x All-Ireland titles, 10x Leinster Championship Titles, 2015 Hurler of the Year, 5x All-Star (2012, ’14, ’15, ’19 & ’20)

The 2015 Hurler of the Year is joint second in the betting alongside Byrnes after showing his class despite his age. A key leader of the Kilkenny side, Reid is arguably the greatest to ever grace the field.

His collection is incredible but he shows little sign of stopping as he has adjusted his game to devastating effect. Needs two points in the final to claim the scoring title for 2022, currently sitting on 2-56 for the year.

#4 | Barry Nash (Limerick and South Liberties)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, All-Star (2021)

Barry Nash’s transformation into arguably the most influential corner back in the game has been breathtaking. He introduced himself onto the scene in 2013 as a swashbuckling centre forward on the minor side that reached the All-Ireland semi-final. He was man of the match at corner forward when the U21s claimed national honours in 2015 and regularly featured in the forwards in Kiely’s first two years in charge of the senior team.

But when needed, Nash reverted back the field, coming on at wing back when Limerick last met Kilkenny in 2019 before starting in the corner throughout the All-Ireland winning campaigns of 2020 and ’21. He has probably been Limerick’s most consistent performer this year and another big performance could be enough for HOTY.

#5 | Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny and Ballyhale Shamrocks)

3x Leinster Championship Titles, Young Hurler of the Year (2019)

The star on show when these sides last met, the 19-year-old clipped over 0-4 en route to winning the Young Hurler of the Year award. A cruciate knee ligament injury hampered his 2020 and he failed to find that form from his maiden season last year.

However, reverting to midfield has worked wonders for the youngster with his point taking ability a huge plus to Brian Cody’s men. He hit 0-5 in the semi-final win over Clare and will be key if Kilkenny are to upset the odds on Sunday.

#6 | Sean Finn (Limerick and Bruff)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, 4x All-Star (2018, ’19, ’20 & ’21)

Four in a row All-Star, Hurler of the Year nominee last year, Sean Finn has redefined what is to be expected from corner backs and has led the revolution of the position now spearheaded by the likes of the Bruff man, Nash, Mikey Butler, Rory Hayes and Sean O’Donoghue.

But Finn is in a class of his own as he showed in the semi-final when often pitted one on one in defence. Will go down as one of the best to ever do it, if not the best and an outside bet to claim Hurler of the Year, especially if he can put the shackles on Eoin Cody.

=7 | Mikey Butler (Kilkenny and O’Loughlin Gaels)

Leinster Championship Title

What a debut season for Mikey Butler who has gone from strength to strength. The O’Loughlin Gaels man is a teak tough defender but is adept at getting forward akin to Nash. Completely dominated his battle with Tony Kelly, keeping the Clare man scoreless from play, a feat only managed once before.

Who he picks in the All-Ireland final will be interesting and if he can add another man of the match award to his belt following his Leinster final exploits, expect his price to fall rapidly.

=7 | Kyle Hayes (Limerick and Kildimo Pallaskenry)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, 2x All-Star (2020 & ’21), Young Hurler of the Year (2018)

With the same odds as Mikey Butler, Kyle Hayes is peaking at the right time and would be worth a punt for Hurler of the Year following his man of the match display in the semi-final. The Kildimo Pallaskenry man picked up the same accolade in the 2018 final and is back in the position where he won Young Hurler of the Year that year.

Whether centre-forward is his best position, or whether he will be there for the final is another question but Hayes is key to all Limerick do as he looks to make the shortlist for the second successive year.

#9 | Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick and St Patricks)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, 2x All-Star (2020 & ’21), Hurler of the Year (2020)

Hurler of the Year, two years ago, there would be many that argue Hegarty is Limerick’s most important player. A huge ball winner with fleet of foot and a suite of skills, the St Patricks man is so hard to stop.

In his last two All-Ireland finals he hit 0-7 and 2-1 respectively and another performance of that elk will put him in good stead to make the shortlist.

#10 | Declan Hannon (Limerick and Adare)

3x All-Ireland titles, 4x Munster Championship Titles, 2x All-Star (2018 & ’21)

A real outside bet but hard to argue that it hasn’t been Hannon’s best year for Limerick, despite already having a pair of All-Stars in his collection. He is crucial to everything Limerick do and often saves his best for Croke Park, like the semi-final win over Galway.

Good for a score and the leader in the defence, Hurler of the Year looks out of his reach but that would count for little if he were to lift the All-Ireland title for the fourth time on Sunday.

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Limerick face Kilkenny in the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday 17 July at 3.30pm in Croke Park.