Seven Clare players have been named on the U-21 hurling team of the year, among them Sedna Morey, Colm Galvin and 2013 player of the year, Tony Kelly, who were on last year’s side. Tipperary’s Jason Forde has also been selected again.
Five Wexford players are on the team that lost in an exciting All-Ireland to Clare, while two Tipperary men and one Galway man complete the 15.
The win made history for Clare GAA, as it bought a third U-21 hurling title in-a-row to the county.
Midfielder Colm Galvin, a nominee for player of the year, is the only man to be named in the same position as he was in the 2013 Bord Gáis Energy team. Teammate, Aaron Cunningham and Wexford’s Conor McDonald are the other two in the running for this accolade.
Seadna Morey is selected on the full-back line this year having been chosen at wing-back last year. Tony Kelly, gets the nod at centre forward, having been picked on the wing in 2013. Tipperary’s Jason Forde gets the 13 jersey, having been selected at full-forward 12 months ago.
Wexford’s Oliver O’Leary is chosen between the posts. He didn’t concede a single goal during Wexford’s Leinster Championship winning run, while he only conceded three goals in five championship games in total.
Seadna Morey is joined in the full back line by the inspirational Liam Ryan from Wexford at number three and Tipperary’s Cathal Barrett in the other corner. Clare’s Conor Cleary anchors the defence at 6, while he is flanked by Wexford’s Andrew Kenny at 5 and his teammate Jamie Shanahan at 7.
It’s an all Clare midfield, with Colm Galvin being joined by Eoin Enright.
In the forwards, Tony Kelly wears the 11 jersey following another exceptional season, while Jack Guiney is on one wing with Galway’s Padraig Brehony at 12, following his excellent display against Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Jason Forde is joined by Wexford’s Conor McDonald at 14 and Clare’s Aaron Cunningham at 15 to complete the line-up. Cunningham scored seven goals in five games during Clare’s run to a third All-Ireland title in a row.
The prestigious Player of the Year and Score of the Year awards will be presented at the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year Awards ceremony which will be televised live on TG4 at 8.30pm this Saturday.
2014 Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year:
1. Oliver O’Leary (Wexford)
2. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
3. Liam Ryan (Wexford)
4. Seadna Morey (Clare)
5. Andrew Kenny (Wexford)
6. Conor Cleary (Clare)
7. Jamie Shanahan (Clare)
8. Colm Galvin (Clare)
9. Eoin Enright (Clare)
10. Jack Guiney (Wexford)
11. Tony Kelly (Clare)
12. Padraig Brehony (Galway)
13. Jason Forde (Tipperary)
14. Conor Mc Donald (Wexford)
15. Aaron Cunningham (Clare)
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.