And just like that, the club season is over.
St Thomas’ ended their ‘ten years of hurt’ by defeating O’Loughlin Gaels on Sunday, to win their second AIB All-Ireland club title, and their first since 2013.
The Galway club have had their fair share of near misses, losing four semi-finals and a final in recent times but they weren’t to be denied this time around.
Players like Gerald Kelly, Fintan Burke, David Burke, Shane and Conor Cooney and of course, the match-winner Eanna Burke were almost automatic selections for the team of the year while their most unfortunate absentees are Cian Mahony Cathal Burke, who had tremendous finals, and indeed years, in defence.
Beaten finalists O’Loughlin Gaels have four players on the team, including Mikey Butler, Mark Bergin and their entire half back line.
Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy and David Fogarty were absolutely sensational from the Kilkenny championship right up to Croke Park, where they hit six from play between them.
Deegan and the precocious Fogarty, in particular, caught the eye with Deegan selected as our club hurler of the year. Huw Lawlor was unlucky to miss out with Fintan Burke only just shading that battle.
Meanwhile, beaten semi-finalists Ruairí Óg are represented by Eoghan Campbell and Joseph McLoughlin, while Dessie Hutchinson and the brilliant Patrick Fitzgerald get the nod from Ballygunner.
GAA JOE Club hurling team of the year
1 Gerald Kelly (St Thomas’)
2 Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels)
3 Fintan Burke (St Thomas’)
4 Shane Cooney (St Thomas’)
5 Jordan Molloy (O’Loughlin Gaels)
6 Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
7 David Fogarty (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8 David Burke (St Thomas’)
9 Neil McManus (Ruairí Óg)
10 Mark Bergin (O’Loughlin Gaels)
11 Conor Cooney (St Thomas’)
12 Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)
13 Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner)
14 Eanna Burke (St Thomas’)
15 Joseph McLoughlin (Ruairí Óg)
GAA JOE Club Hurler of the Year: Paddy Deegan
The O’Loughlin Gaels centre back was a phenomenon from start to finish this year, with his overall tally of in 0-11 from play in eight championship games indicative of his overall influence.
Read next:
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- “You’re not in need of the gym as much as if you’re sitting down all day” – St Thomas’ sparky keeping it lit
- David Clifford’s ‘Michael Jordan-esque’ quest for improvement hailed by Kerry performance coach
- Walter Walsh explains how his unusual grip came about and when he sometimes changes it
- Richie Donnelly’s retirement from Tyrone is borderline disastrous for the county
- The three players Mickey Harte should immediately call up for Derry
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