My Senior Hurling and Football Teams of 2012

Now that the County Senior hurling and football finals has been decided with wins going to De La Salle and Stradbally, I decided to have our go at selecting my hurling and Football team of the year.

This year’s Championships saw some good games as usual and there was a major upsets along the way.
Dungarvan got their first final since 1951 although they had to settle for second best on the day as De La Salle proved too strong.
In football, The Nire, Stradbally and Ballinacourty as expected reached the last four of the competitions and they were joined in the last four by Clashmore.
Because two or more players stood out in certain positions, it may have been wrong to leave some players out of my team of the year all together, so efforts were made to fit them in at positions that we know that they can play, having played in another position in the past or they play in a different position at club and inter county levels.

Hurling Team of the Year 2012

GOALKEEPER: Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner) – The ability of the Ballygunner man is known to many for many years, but in 2012 like cream, he came to the top. He won the race to be Clinton Hennessey’s successor between the posts on the Inter County Scene and was very unlucky not to have been nominated for an All-Star. While Ballygunner may have exited the championship earlier than they would have liked, their exit can in no way be put down to their net minder who was without doubt their player of the year.

RIGHT CORNER-BACK: Bryan Phelan (De La Salle) – Everybody knows the ability that the De La Salle man has, and most would have been disappointed that his inter county career ended somewhat prematurely. He had a very good year with De La Salle this year, playing mostly in the half back line but is one of these players that can slot in anyplace and do a job.

FULL BACK: Liam Lawlor (Fourmilewater) – While he plays centre back for his club, he lines out at full back for the county and there fills the position in this team in the number three shirt. For many years since Sean Cullinane retired from the Inter County scene Waterford have had problems at full back. The Fourmilewater man has proven to be our best option there and with each passing game seems to be fitting more and more into the jersey.

LEFT CORNER-BACK: Stephen Daniels (De La Salle) – The De La Salle man had a very good year for both club and county. For a number of years he has played in the half back line but has moved to corner back and made the switch relatively easy. He is a player that many Waterford fans called to see in a white and blue shirt in recent years and when given the chance this year he has shown why such calls were made.

RIGHT HALF-BACK: Shane Kearney (Dungarvan) – Dungarvan reached their first senior hurling county final since 1951 this year and one of the reasons they did was the form of Shane Kearney. He proved time and time again to be a fine hurler in the colours of the Old Boro and many are now calling for him to be added to the Inter County panel for the year ahead.

CENTRE BACK: Kevin Moran (De La Salle) – What can be said about the De La Salle man that has not been said already. He has been outstanding in the number six shirt for De La Salle in the last few years and this year he played a lot of hurling for Waterford in the middle of the field having previously played in attack and defence. Becoming Waterford’s fifteenth different All-Star winner recently is an honour he richly deserved.

LEFT HALF-BACK: Eoin Madigan (De La Salle) – Another player that excelled for De La Salle in the year just past. He up to now would have played a lot of his hurling in attack but moved to defence in recent times and many could be forgiven that he has played there all his life. If he can continue the form he has shown in the county championship this year in the Munster Championship he will have to be considered for the county team in the year ahead and beyond.

MIDFIELD: Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan) – Jamie was another key player for Dungarvan this past year. As the father of the team (Dungarvan) a lot of responsibility rests on his shoulders to guide the younger players through games, a responsibility he has duly undertaken and very successfully. Jamie is a very versatile player who moved to centre back for the second half of the county final and helped to steady the ship.

MIDFIELD: Dean Twomey (De La Salle) – The ability of the De La Salle man is known for a long time, but was more obvious more than ever in 2012. He was brought into the Waterford set up and when given time to show what he could do, did not let the side down. He is approaching what should be the best years of his career and could well be a vital player both for club and county.

RIGHT HALF-FORWARD: Ray Barry (Lismore) –The young Lismore man had a very good year in 2012. When the Cathedral Town side were without the services of Maurice Shanahan for the championship quarter final clash with De La Salle, the question was asked who would step up to the mark in his absence. Ray was one of the main reasons why Lismore pushed the eventual champions all the way.

CENTRE FORWARD: John Mullane (De La Salle) – For the past number of years we have become very accustomed to seeing the De La Salle sharp shooter operate at corner or full forward where he put the ‘fear of God’ into many a defence. This year he played a lot at centre forward and while his scoring rate may not be as high as in previous years what we saw him do superbly this year was to bring more players into the game and help set up numerous scores for them.

LEFT HALF-FORWARD: Jake Dillon (De La Salle) – Another De La Salle player that had a fantastic year in 2012. He helped in no small part in securing their third county final in five years and will now be pivotal to the city outfit trying to add a third provincial title to their roll of honour. He made the break through onto the inter county scene this year and looks to have a bright future in a Waterford shirt. 

RIGHT CORNER-FORWARD: Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion) – Mount Sion this year did not have the best of starts to this years championship, loosing their first three games, but did enough in later games to reach the semi final stages of the championship, which included a win over Ballygunner in the quarter finals. Through the year, he stood out for them and hit some very important scores.

FULL FORWARD: Shane Walsh (Fourmilewater) – The sign of a good player is one that can turn a game on its head in a matter of minutes, without having stood out up to that point. In football we have seen Colm Cooper do it for both club and county and in hurling the Fourmilewater is a similar player. Shane has hit some crucial scores for Waterford since becoming a regular in the team and in the last year or two he has done the same for Fourmilewater. He played a major part in Fourmilewater reaching the semi finals of this year’s championship.

LEFT CORNER-FORWARD: Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater) – Why inter county selectors in the past have played the Fourmilewater man in defence is one of the great unanswered questions in Waterford hurling. For some time now he has proven himself to be a potent forward often hitting some very impressive tallies in the games he plays both from placed balls and from play. He is bound to be a player that the county selectors will have in mind to use in 2013 and if they do, he will cause lots of damage to opposing teams with his pace and eye for the posts.

 Football team of the year 2012.

 

GOALKEEPER: Stephen Enright (Ballinacourty) – The Ballinacourty man had another impressive year in 2012. He has proven once more to be the best in the business at this position in the county. Why he has not played for the county more is a little mind boggling. Maybe 2013 is the year when he does.

RIGHT CORNER-BACK: Tony Grey (Stradbally) – The Stradbally man has played a lot of football at wing back in the last few years but this year he has also played at corner back and proved to be very effective there. He has been the centre piece of many of his side’s recent successes and with age on his side, he could be around for a few years to come.

FULL BACK: Thomas O’Gorman (The Nire) – There is few that can compare to the Nire Man when it comes to filling the number three shirt. He had another good year at club and county level. In The Nire’s County semi final win over Clashmore he played at centre field and also impressed there.

LEFT CORNER-BACK: Maurice O’Gorman (The Nire) – The robust full-back has been instrumental in The Nire’s defence with the last few years. He has proven that what his twin brother can do he can do equally as well. Any player that gets the better of him can surely say that they have had a good game.

RIGHT HALF-BACK: Shane Briggs (Ballinacourty) – He has proven to be mister versatile for his club in recent years, fitting in at a number of positions. He is without doubt one of the best footballers in this county. He is a player that fails to give it his all regardless of where he plays. He is a player that is highly thought of by many of the football supporters in the county, and is someone that many feel could have a roll to fill for some time to come.  

CENTRE BACK: Stephen Prendergast (Kilrossanty) – The Kilrossanty man is another very versatile player who could have fitted in at a number of positions. He played a lot this year at full back this year which is possibly his best position but can also be very effective at centre back or even centre field.

LEFT HALF-BACK: Kieran Connery (Clashmore) – Clashmore in 2012 had a very good year and the performance of Kieran Connery was one of the reasons. He can play in a number of positions, most often at corner back but can do a job where ever asked.

MIDFIELD: Tommy Prendergast (Kilrossanty) – The Kilrossanty man last year missed out on a lot of games due to injury but came back well this year and showed that he is back to his near or very best. He is best suited to the centre of the field where his height and ability to pull the ball out of the air is a big plus, and can also operate at full forward where he can be very effective especially with the new rules that came into use earlier this year regarding the square ball rule.

MIDFIELD: Michael Walsh (Kilrossanty) – In 2012, the Brick once again proved to be one of the best footballers around. He helped his side reach another County final and in both the drawn and replayed games he was his sides stand out player. While he may not feature highly on the scoring stakes each year, his work rate in the middle of the field more than makes up for it.

RIGHT HALF-FORWARD: Tadhg Bourke (Clashmore)–Tadhg is one of a few fine duel players that are currently coming up in the county. He won many admirers in hurling helping Colaiste na nDéise win the Dr Harty Cup earlier this year, but he is also a fine footballer. Throughout the year he was very impressive with Clashmore kicking some crucial scores which helped them reach the semi final stages of the competition.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD: Gary Hurney (Ballinacourty) – The big Ballinacourty man is often spoken of as the best footballer in Waterford in recent years and also one of the best in Munster. He captained the county this year and did a very good job. He took the responsibility well. With the rule long gone now that the captain has to come from the county finals winning club, the Waterford selectors for 2013 could do worse than to ask Gary to captain the side once more. Ballinacourty had a disappointing year in 2012 but he was a player that always stood out for them.

LEFT HALF-FORWARD: Paul Whyte (Kilrossanty) – Any person that has not seen the young Kilrossanty man to date should make a point of going to see him play in 2013. The admission fee at times to see him alone play is well worth parting with and more over with the new season ticket coming into use next year. He is a fine a kicker from a free as you will find any place.

RIGHT CORNER-FORWARD: Niall Curran (Stradbally) – The question has often been asked how long more can Stradbally keep going. They have reached every county semi final since 1999 and have reached nine county finals since 2001. Pivotal to many of these successes was Niall Curran and in 2012 he again stood out, hitting 1-6 in their county semi final win over Ballinacourty.

FULL FORWARD: Liam Lawlor (The Nire) – He had another very good year in 2012 playing at full forward. For many years up to now, he played a lot of his football at wing back or he was named in a forward position but dropped back as an extra defender often playing as a sweeper between the half back and full back lines. He proved to be very effective at full forward and hit a number of very important scores for his side over the course of the year.

LEFT CORNER-FORWARD: Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore) – in 2011 the Clashmore man missed a lot of the year due to an injury but in 2012 away from the pressures that often goes with been involved with an inter county team he was back to his best. He was very impressive for Clashmore through the football championship kicking a number of important scores which helped his side reach the semi final stages of the competition.

HURLER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Moran (De La Salle).

FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR: Liam Lawlor (The Nire).

UNDERAGE HURLER OF THE YEAR: Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater).

UNDERAGE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR: Tadhg Bourke (Clashmore).

CLUB OF THE YEAR: FOURMILEWATER – There is a number of clubs that could be considered. But of these, Fourmilewater have possibly the smallest pick. They reached the semi final stages of the senior championship, they have won the Junior ‘Senior Attached’ County Final as well as a Minor County Final and are in an under 21 final to be played in the coming weeks. In the latter three finals, a number of players were involved with the three teams.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Dungarvan (Senior Hurlers) – Butlerstown (Junior Hurlers) A joint winning situation. Not to acknowledge what Dungarvan did in the senior hurling championship would be wrong, and the same would apply to Butlerstown who recovered from loosing last years final at the third attempt and won this years final with a little ease. A mention also must go to a small band of players that were involved in Minor, Under 21 and Junior County finals with Fourmilewater and a Senior football County Final with The Nire.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE GAA: Monnie Hallahan (Sliabh gCua) – 40 years after guiding the Sliabh gCua Set Dancers to win County, Munster and All-Ireland competitions in Scór, Monnie is still going strong and is still very involved with Scór. To Many the G.A.A. is hurling and football, but Scór, Handball, Ladies Football and Camogie are also very important and it is only right to see people who are actively involved in these bodies get some recognition.