Five Limerick players in Team of the Week as Shannonsiders reach All-Ireland final

All five played a key role for John Kiely’s side, who once again got the better of Henry Shefflin’s men, and booked a final meeting with Kilkenny.

Limerick star Aaron Gillane is joined by Darragh O’Donovan, Kyle Hayes, William O’Donoghue and Mike Casey in the GAA Team of the Week, following the Shannonsiders victory over Galway at the weekend. All five played a key role for John Kiely’s side, who once again got the better of Henry Shefflin’s men, and booked a final meeting with Kilkenny.

Gillane is the top contender for the Hurler of the Year award, and the Patrickswell man was vital on Saturday, hitting 2-6, with both goals coming at crucial points in the game. His efforts have seen him nominated for the Hurler of the Week award, alongside Clare’s Shane O’Donnell, and Eoin Cody of Kilkenny.

In midfield, O’Donovan picked up the Man of the Match award, and all but secured his spot as a 2023 All Star, following yet another tireless display at the heart of Limerick’s team.

The Doon man deserves a lot of credit for his side’s turnaround on Saturday, scoring a crucial point from wide, before laying on two more for his teammates. The midfielder ended the day with just the one score, but his impact was much more than that.

There was much debate about who would fill in at six in the absence of Declan Hannon, and of all the names mentioned, William O’Donoghue wasn’t on the lips of many.

The Na Piarsaigh midfielder did initially struggle, as did the entire side, as Galway surged into a six point lead. But O’Donoghue settled, and was responsible for his side winning a lot of ball around his area of the pitch, especially in the second half. Definitely a successful audition for the six jersey, and should Hannon miss the final, Kiely knows he has a man he can trust.

A man who had been named at centre-back, Hayes gave a domineering display from his usual wing-back role, and even contributed 0-2 to the Limerick tally. The Kildimo Pallaskenry star joined O’Donoghue and Diarmaid Byrnes in a powerful half-back line, and was paramount to Limerick forcing the amount of turnovers they did.

The ever reliable Casey put in a stellar display at corner-back, in which the Na Piarsaigh man was tasked with keeping a Galway attack consisting of Conor Whelan and Evan Niland at bay. The defender even made a crucial goal line save, and was instrumental to his side’s win.

The other three semi-finalists are represented in the Team of the Week, with Kilkenny also boasting five players, while Clare account for three, and Galway have two selected.

GAA.ie Hurling Team of the Week:

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
2. Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)
3. Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
4. Mike Casey (Limerick)
5. Padraic Mannion (Galway)
6. William O’Donoghue (Limerick)
7. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
8. David Fitzgerald (Clare)
9. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
10. Peter Duggan (Clare)
11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
12. Shane O’Donnell (Clare)
13. Conor Whelan (Galway)
14. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
15. Eoin Cody (Kilkenny)

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