Who makes the All-Star team prior to the All-Ireland Final?

Just one game remains in the 2022 All-Ireland Hurling Championship.

The biggest prize in hurling is on offer this Sunday for Limerick and Kilkenny as they meet in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park.

Anticipation is building for the first meeting of the teams since 2019 with some of the best in the game set to be on display.

For some, an All-Star is secured going into the final while others will be hoping for a big performance to secure the coveted piece of silverware.

With just game remaining, we pick our All-Star team heading into the final.

Goalkeepers

• 2021 All-Star: Eoin Murphy
• Candidates: Eibhear Quilligan (Clare), Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny), Nickie Quaid (Limerick)

It is a two horse race for the fourth time in five years with Murphy picking up the award in 2018 and 2021 while Quaid was the choice in 2020. It probably should be split evenly but Murphy is the front runner for his fourth All-Star.

Full-Back Line

• 2021 All-Stars: Sean Finn, Conor Prunty, Barry Nash
• Candidates: Paul Flanagan, Rory Hayes (both Clare), Sean O’Donoghue (Cork), Daithí Burke (Galway) Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor (both Kilkenny), Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash (all Limerick), Liam Ryan (Wexford)

Barry Nash is a shoo-in for an award and is in the running for Hurler of the Year. Likewise Mikey Butler and Sean Finn are a big final from making the HOTY shortlist. Mike Casey has been the standout full-back in the country this year but Finn slots in there such has been the performances of the corner backs.

Half-Back Line

• 2021 All-Stars: Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes
• Candidates: John Conlon, Diarmuid Ryan (both Clare), Ciaran Joyce, Mark Coleman (both Cork), Padraic Mannion, Joseph Cooney (both Galway), Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan (both Kilkenny), Declan Hannon, Diarmuid Byrnes, Dan Morrissey (all Limerick)

Byrnes is another who has a legitimate claim for HOTY and will pick up a third successive All-Star at #5. Joyce had an exceptional rookie year while Padraic Mannion was at his best for Galway. Conlon’s absence in the semi-final was massive for Clare but Hannon and Reid have been the standout centre-backs and both make the cut.

Midfield

• 2021 All-Stars: William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan
• David Fitzgerald, Ryan Taylor (both Clare), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny), William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan (both Limerick)

Whether he was in midfield or at wing forward, Fitzgerald was class for Clare and he is surely in line for a first All-Star. So too is Adrian Mullen who has clipped over 0-25 from play during the course of the championship.

The current holders of the award haven’t been at their best but a positive final could sway the voters.

Half Forward Line

• 2021 All-Stars: Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey
• Shane O’Donnell, Tony Kelly (both Clare), Conor Lehane (Cork), Conor Cooney, Cathal Mannion, Tom Monaghan (all Galway), TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey (all Limerick), Lee Chin (Wexford)

TJ Reid looks set for a sixth All-Star as he closes in on another scoring title. Hegarty should be awarded a third All-Star on the trot such is his contribution to this Limerick team while Tony Kelly, despite his semi-final performance should collect another individual award. A big final for Kyle Hayes could be enough for him to win a third award.

Full-Forward Line

2021 All-Stars: Tony Kelly, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey

Candidates: Donal Burke (Dublin) Peter Duggan (Clare), Alan Connolly (Cork), Conor Whelan (Galway), Cian Kenny, Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny), Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy (all Limerick), Conor McDonald (Wexford)

Hurler of the Year favourite Gillane will receive his third All-Star in four years later this year as the focal point of the attack. Whelan deserves his first since 2017 as Galway’s main man throughout the year while Eoin Cody makes up the attack.

If Flanagan outperforms the Ballyhale man in the final then he will usurp him for a second successive award.

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2022 All-Star Team

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
2. Sean Finn (Limerick)
3. Mike Casey (Limerick)
4. Barry Nash (Limerick)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
6. Declan Hannon (Limerick)
7. Richie Reid (Kilkenny)
8. Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny)
9. David Fitzgerald (Clare)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
12. Tony Kelly (Clare)
13. Conor Whelan (Galway)
14. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
15. Eoin Cody (Kilkenny)

Check out our picks for Hurler of the Year below.

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