Eight players from the all-conquering Waterford U21s have made the Bord Gáis Energy U21 Hurling Team of the Year, writes Stephen Barry.
Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran and Stephen Bennett have been nominated for the Player of the Year award and all make the team, with Stephen’s brother Shane joining him in the attacking selection.
Goalkeeper Jordan Henley, and defenders Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons and Micheál Harney complete the Déise contingent.
Leinster champions Dublin have Eoghan O’Donnell and Shane Barrett included in the defence, with All-Ireland runners-up Galway represented by midfielder Dan Nevin and centre-forward Brian Molloy, who also made the team last year.
Westmeath picked up their first award at this grade, as Niall Mitchell was honoured for his role in the Lake County’s stunning defeat of Kilkenny.
Limerick’s Ronan Lynch (midfield) and Tipperary’s Andrew Coffey (left-wing forward) bring the number of counties included to six.
The team in full is as follows:
1 Jordan Henley (Waterford)
Up first for the #BGEU21 Team of the Year on @offtheball is the Goalkeeper and the winner is Jordan Henley @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/3IYFrhZDLA
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
2 Conor Gleeson (Waterford)
Corner back in @offtheball’s #BGEU21 Team of the Year is Conor Gleeson from @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/8LhZgtqzfR
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
3 Eoghan O’Donnell (Dublin)
Full back is #BGEU21 Ambassador Eoghan O’ Donnell @DUBGAAOfficial, Team of the Year @offtheball pic.twitter.com/Am8gTa6Ygi
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
4 Darragh Lyons (Waterford)
Just announced on @offtheball, our final full back to be named on the #BGEU21 Team of the Year is Darragh Lyons @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/hnTsRBMbDA
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
5 Micheál Harney (Waterford)
Moving up the field to the half backs, number 5. Míchéal Harney @WaterfordGAA is joining our #BGEU21 Team of the Year @offtheball pic.twitter.com/HfwghiYTGE
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
6 Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
#BGEU21 Ambassador and @WaterfordGAA’s Austin Gleeson has been named centre half back on @offtheball #BGEU21 Team of the Year pic.twitter.com/TbIjrhaK8N
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
7 Shane Barrett (Dublin)
.@DUBGAAOfficial’s Shane Barrett finishes the #BGEU21 Team of the Year back line @offtheball pic.twitter.com/OGUHu5mjO2
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 4, 2016
8 Dan Nevin (Galway)
1st up this eve, @offtheball announce our mid fielders in #BGEU21 Team of the Year, number 8. Dan Nevin @Galway_GAA is joining the line-up pic.twitter.com/r1O9VdK54R
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
9 Ronan Lynch (Limerick)
Supporting Nevin in mid field is @LimerickCLG’s Ronan Lynch in @offtheball’s #BGEU21 Team of The Year pic.twitter.com/uaLEuC2lka
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
10 Shane Bennett (Waterford)
Shane Bennett has been named as #BGEU21 Team of the Year’s number 10 @offtheball pic.twitter.com/eG59kUoISH
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
11 Brian Molloy (Galway)
Man of the Match against Dublin for @Galway_GAA, Brian Molloy has been awarded centre half forward in #BGEU21 Team of the Year @offtheball pic.twitter.com/hvAxAwbNMl
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
12 Andrew Coffey (Tipperary)
Number 12 for #BGEU21 Team of the Year is Andrew Coffey from @TipperaryGAA also up for Score of the Year which will be announced this Sat pic.twitter.com/eN35s9rQnm
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
13 Patrick Curran (Waterford)
Corner forward in #BGEU21 Team of the Year has been announced on @offtheball and is @WaterfordGAA’s Patrick Curran pic.twitter.com/PFUDnUtxKF
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
14 Stephen Bennett (Waterford)
Centre forward in #BGEU21 Team of the Year has been awarded to @WaterfordGAA’s Stephen Bennett who was also nominated for Score of the Year pic.twitter.com/9kSv5wEpLb
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
15 Niall Mitchell (Westmeath)
Difficult decision but well deserved @westmeath_gaa's Niall Mitchell is number 15 for #BGEU21 Team of the Year @offtheball pic.twitter.com/Ssk82wTGFC
— BordGáis U21 Hurling (@BGEHurlingU21) October 5, 2016
