Limerick’s Storied History with the All-Star Awards (1973-2021)

Limerick have had a storied history with the annual hurling All-Stars with two on the inaugural team and 40 men named to the team since.

First introduced in 1971, the awards have come to resemble excellence on the playing field and is one of the pinnacles of an individuals career.

Since its inception 50 years ago, 42 Limerick men have combined to receive 76 awards for the Shannonsiders.

Cian Lynch became the first Limerick man to win the Hurler of the Year award in 2018 with Gearoid Hegarty joining him in that regard in 2020. Eamonn Grimes was awarded the Texcaco Hurler of the Year award in 1973 which was separate to the All-Star HOTY prize which began in 1995.

Lynch won his second award in 2021, joining Henry Shefflin as the only players to win multiple HOTY prizes.

1970’s and 80’s

Pat Hartigan was Limerick’s first recipient in 1971 as he was rewarded “for his contribution as one of the mainstays of Limerick’s resurgence in 1971. At full back he showed unyielding stubbornness under the heaviest of pressure.” He was joined on the 1971 edition by Eamonn Cregan who was selected “for his speed, elusiveness and powerful shot which unite to make him one of the most successful score-getters of modern times. His effectiveness was strikingly emphasised during 1971.”

The duo were once more selected in 1972 as Limerick’s sole representatives.

The All-Ireland win in 1973 saw five Limerick players chosen. Hartigan received his third successive award and was joined by first time winners, Jim O’Brien, Sean Foley, Richie Bennis and Eamonn Grimes.

It was four on the trot for Hartigan in 1974 as he was joined by Joe McKenna who would become Limerick’s most decorated All-Star, with Limerick defeated by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

Hartigan won his fifth successive and last All-Star in 1975 with McKenna and Grimes both collecting their second award.

1976 was the first year Limerick didn’t receive an award with Joe McKenna’s selection on the 1978 team the next All-Star brought back to the Treaty.

McKenna won his fourth over all the next year in 1979 and made it three on the trot the following season.

He was joined on the 1980‘s side by Leonard Enright and Eamonn Cregan who won his third All-Star, eight years after winning his second, as Limerick lost out in the All-Ireland final to Galway.

Joe McKenna passed Hartigan’s mark of five awards in 1981 as he collected a sixth All-Star. He was chosen alongside Enright who earned his second in a row and Liam O’Donoghue.

1982 yielded no Limerick winners with Enright collecting his third in 1983.

The following year in 1984, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Paddy Kelly were first time All-Stars.

1990’s

It would be seven more years before Limerick collected their next All-Star with Gary Kirby chosen on the 1991 side.

Ciaran Carey and Tommy Quaid followed suit in 1992.

Tommy’s cousin Joe was Limerick’s next recipient in 1994 where he was joined by Dave Clarke, Carey, Mike Houlihan, Kirby and Damien Quigley with Limerick falling to Offaly in the All-Ireland final.

Kirby was Limerick’s only recipient in 1995 and the Patrickswell man earned his third on the trot and fourth overall the following year. He was chosen on the 1996 side alongside Quaid (2), Carey (3), Houlihan (2) and Limerick’s first ever Young Hurler of the Year Mark Foley.

2000’s

Foley would earn Limerick’s next award five years later in 2001.

There would be another lengthy wait for the Shannonsiders as Brian Murray was next selected in the 2007 team alongside teammates Ollie Moran and Andrew O’Shaughnessy as Limerick lost out in the All-Ireland final to Kilkenny. Seamus Hickey was named as Limerick’s second ever Young Hurler of the Year

After helping Limerick to a first Munster title in 19 years, Richie McCarthy was chosen on the 2013 All Star team.

The following year, Seamus Hickey and Shane Dowling were chosen on the 2014 vintage.

It would be four years before Limerick next claimed an award with the 2018 side matching the 1994 team who had six representatives.

Making the cut in 2018 were first time recipients Sean Finn, Richie Englsh, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey, Cian Lynch and Graeme Mulcahy as Limerick ended a 45 year wait for All-Ireland honours. Kyle Hayes was also selected as Young Hurler of the Year

Finn made it two in a row in 2019 and was joined by first time All-Star Aaron Gillane.

2020

Limerick had fourteen players nominated for an award in 2020 as they claimed a second All-Ireland title in three years. Nine of John Kiely’s men were chosen, equaling the record thrice set by Kilkenny. Sean Finn made it three in a row while Cian Lynch, Dan Morrissey and Aaron Gillane collected their second award.

Nickie Quaid, Kyle Hayes, Diarmaid Byrnes, Tom Morrissey and Gearoid Hegarty were all named onto the All-Star team for the first time.

2021

After retaining their All-Ireland title, each of Limerick’s All-Ireland final starting XV were nominated for All-Star awards. And after equalling the record in 2020, the Shannonsiders smashed the record receiving twelve selections.

Sean Finn followed in the footsteps of Joe McKenna and Pat Hartigan in winning four successive awards, while HOTY Cian Lynch picked up a third.

Kyle Hayes, Diarmaid Byrnes, Gearoid Hegarty and Tom Morrissey were chosen for the second successive year while Declan Hannon also collected his second gong.

There were five players chosen for the first time in Barry Nash, William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan, Peter Casey and Seamus Flanagan.

That means every player that started the 2021 All-Ireland final has won an All-Star with Nickie Quaid (2020), Dan Morrissey (2018, ’20) and Aaron Gillane (2019, ’20) the only players to miss out on the team.

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Limerick’s All Star Hurlers

6. Joe McKenna (1974, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81)

5. Pat Hartigan (1971, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75)

4. Sean Finn (2018, ’19, ’20, ’21)

Gary Kirby (1991, ’94, ’95, ’96)

3. Ciaran Carey (1992, ’94, ’96)

Eamonn Cregan (1971, ’72, ’80)

Leonard Enight (1980, ’81, ’83)

Cian Lynch (2018, ’20, ’21)

2. Diarmaid Byrnes (2020, ’21)

Mark Foley (1994, ’01)

Aaron Gillane (2019, ’20)

Eamonn Grimes (1973, ’75)

Declan Hannon (2018, ’21)

Kyle Hayes (2020, ’21)

Gearoid Hegarty (2020, ’21)

Mike Houlihan (1994, ’96)

Dan Morrissey (2018, ’20)

Tom Morrissey (2020, ’21)

Joe Quaid (1994, ’96)

1.Richie Bennis (1973)

Peter Casey (2021)

Dave Clarke (1994)

Shane Dowling (2014)

Richie English (2018)

Paudie Fitzmaurice (1984)

Seamus Flanagan (2021)

Sean Foley (1973)

Seamus Hickey (2014)

Paddy Kelly (1984)

Richie McCarthy (2013)

Ollie Moran (2007)

Graeme Mulcahy (2018)

Brian Murray (2007)

Barry Nash (2021)

Jim O’Brien (1973)

Liam O’Donoghue (1981)

William O’Donoghue (2021)

Darragh O’Donovan (2021)

Andrew O’Shaughnessy (2007)

Tommy Quaid (1992)

Nickie Quaid (2020)

Damien Quigley (1994)