Gillane, Byrnes and Hayes make up Hurler of the Year shortlist

Aaron Gillane is the favourite for the gong but faces stiff competition from last year’s winner Byrnes and Hayes who was nominated for the top prize two years ago.

For the fourth successive year, the PwC/GPA Hurler of the Year award will reside in Limerick for the winter with the three man shortlist completed by Shannonsiders.

Following the announcement of the All-Star nominations this morning, Kyle Hayes, Aaron Gillane and Diarmaid Byrnes were named on of the short list for the top individual award.

It is the second time in three years that the shortlist is made up of solely Limerick men. The vote will be conducted from among their playing colleagues.  

Aaron Gillane is the favourite for the gong but faces stiff competition from last year’s winner Byrnes and Hayes who was nominated for the top prize two years ago.

If Gillane or Byrnes were to win, it would be the third successive year that a Patrickswell native claimed the award with Lynch winning his second in 2021.

Gillane was unmarketable for much of the summer and contributed 3-47 over the course of the campaign where he was man of the match in the Munster final win over Clare.

On his return to defence, Hayes was a pillar of strength as Limerick underwent repairs following the injuries to Sean Finn and captain Declan Hannon. He was also named as the Sunday Game Hurler of the Year after the All-Ireland final.

Byrnes was his typical self on the other wing and became the all-time highest scoring defender in Championship history with another prolific season.

Gillane is the favourite among the bookies and has been since the Munster final display where he is priced at 1/4. Hayes is the next best at 3/1 with Byrnes 12/1 to retain.

Limerick dominated the All-Stars list this morning with 14 of the 45 nominees from the Treaty county.

The PwC All-Star teams will be presented with their awards at a gala black-tie event which will be staged in Dublin’s RDS and shown live on RTÉ tv on Friday, November 17.

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