JOHN Conlon and Shane O’Donnell have been named on the PWC Hurling All Star team for 2023.
It is the second All Star for both, with Conlon winning one in 2018 and O’Donnell in 2022.
Limerick dominate the selection with seven of their All Ireland winning team taking All Stars, with beaten finalists Kilkenny picking up five and one going to Galway’s Conor Whelan.
Conlon was named at centre back and the Clonlara man enters a distinguished club of players who have been honoured as forwards and defenders in their career after he was named full forward in 2018.
Famously he had to leave his brother’s wedding in April to face Limerick, and with victory and the man of the match award secured, he returned for the evening celebrations. The All Star caps a great year for Conlon which also saw him pick up his second county senior championship.
O’Donnell was in sparkling form for much of the summer with Clare and scored one of the goals of the year in the All Ireland semi final against Kilkenny.
After suffering a serious concussion in 2021, O’Donnell returned to the saffron and blue last year and delivered a number of great performances. He kept his performance levels high throughout this year’s championship while he was recently named the Gaelic Writers’ Association Hurling Personality of the Year.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.