Kyle Hayes named Sunday Game Hurler of the Year as Limerick and Kilkenny dominate SG Team of the Year

In addition to the seven Limerick representatives, there are five from Kilkenny, two Clare men, and one from Galway.

The 2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship has finally drawn to a close, and following all the thrills and spills that came with it, Limerick have once again ended up on top.

A domineering second half display drove John Kiely’s men to a fourth successive Liam MacCarthy, a feat never achieved on Shannonside, which is testament to this great side.

With the championship coming to its end, the Sunday Game announced their Team of the Year on the final hurling show of the year, and it is dominated by the finalists, with all but three players hailing from Limerick and Kilkenny.

The panel selected Kyle Hayes as their Hurler of the Year, the Kildimo Pallaskenry man was magnificent in the final, and is a certainty for the half-back spot for the third time, adding to his award at #11 last year.

He makes up one third of an exclusively Limerick half-backline, joined by makeshift no.6 William O’Donoghue, and the brilliant Diarmaid Byrnes, who was outstanding in the final, scoring 0-8.

Dan Morrissey has been near flawless at full-back for Kiely this year, and the Ahane man is named in the team at corner-back, while brother Tom Morrissey gets into the side at half-forward, following a year of impressive scoring.

It is a Clare-Limerick combo in midfield, as Darragh O’Donovan is selected alongside David Fitzgerald. The Doon man turned in one tireless display after another this year, and his Man of the Match performance against Galway drove his side to the final.

The final Limerick player selected in the side is the least surprising of all, as Aaron Gillane is named at 14. The Patrickswell sharpshooter has been immense all season, from the start of the Munster championship right through to the final, having the best year of his career.

Gillane is the frontrunner for the Hurler of the Year award, and is probably deserving of the honour following his exploits.

In addition to the seven Limerick representatives, there are five from Kilkenny, two Clare men, and one from Galway.

The Sunday Game Team of the Year 2023:

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
2. Mikey Butler (Kilkenny)
3. Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
4. Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
6. William O’Donoghue (Limerick)
7. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
8. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
9. David Fitzgerald (Clare)
10. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
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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