What a group of players!!
With the 2025 Munster SHC in full swing, we have had a go at picking the best 15 since 2000.
It is an absolutely cracking side, with many unlucky to miss out.
The county breakdown is as follows: 6 Limerick, 3 Waterford, 3 Tipperary, 2 Cork, 1 Clare.
SportsJOE’s Munster SHC team of the century:
1. Nicky Quaid (Limerick)
Very tight between Quaid and Tipperary’s Brendan Cummins.
The Treaty man’s distribution skills just edges it.
2. Seán Finn (Limerick)
Not quite as a heralded as some of the other members of the great, four-in-a-row Limerick side, but he was a true cornerstone and still is.
An incredible defender.
3. Diarmuid O’Sullivan (Cork)
Known as the Rock, and for good reason.
One of the hardest men to ever play the game.
4. Barry Nash (Limerick)
Completely revolutionised the role of the left corner-back.
5. Tony Browne (Waterford)
The personification of longevity.
Made his debut back in 1991, before retiring in 2014 at the age of 40.
Also won the Hurler of the Year award in 1998.
6. Ken McGrath (Waterford)
His fellow Déise men, Tony Browne and Michael Walsh, were contenders, but McGrath takes it by a hair.
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)
Pretty much an instant hit when brought into the senior team, winning an All-Star in his first season.
Helped put a stop to Kilkenny’s five-in-a-row the next season.
8. Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
A huge part of the Premier’s last three All-Ireland wins.
He came into the senior side as an 18-year-old, and was already one of their best players.
9. Cian Lynch (Limerick)
One of only two player with multiple GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year awards, one behind Henry Shefflin’s three.
The face of this great Treaty side.
10. Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
Five All-Ireland titles, a Hurler of the Year award, four All-Stars, and he has plenty more in him.
11. John Mullane (Waterford)
While Mullane won four of his five All-Star awards (a record for a Déise man) in the full-forward line, his first, in 2003, came as a half-forward.
We just had to get him in somewhere.
12. Tony Kelly (Clare)
An utter maverick of the game, and one of the most gifted men to ever pick up a stick.
Hurler of the Year at 19, when the Banner were crowned All-Ireland champions in 2013.
Over a decade later and he scores one of the great final goals to help his county to another title.
Slightly out of position here, but he is good enough to play anywhere.
13. Patrick Horgan (Cork)
One of the best to never win an All-Ireland title, but Cork are favourites to write that wrong this year.
The top scorer of all time in the championship.
14. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
Very, very close between himself and Tipp’s Séamus Callanan.
The Treaty baller wins out thanks to his immense influence in Limerick’s Munster SHC final win in 2023, where he finished with 1-11.
15. Eoin Kelly (Tipperary)
If you want a point, just give it to Kelly.
An almost unrivalled ability to send the sliotar over the bar.
