Considering the level of talent we have seen in hurling over the last half century, picking the best team of the last 50 years is a near impossible endeavour. Regardless of who you pick in the side, you are going to be leaving some incredible players out.
Anthony Nash, Anthony Cunningham, and Liam Sheedy were faced with this unenviable task, picking their 15 for 50 - the All-Star team for the last 50 years.
The three lads had a huge amount of debate over most positions, but there was one area of the pitch that featured universal agreement.
The half-forward line, consisting of Joe Canning, Henry Shefflin, and TJ Reid all but picked itself.
Sheedy: For me, this was the easiest line. We could end up fighting over it now.
For me, it's Joe Canning, Henry Shefflin, and TJ Reid. They speak for themselves with what they've achieved in the game over the last ten years with TJ and Joe, and Henry at his peak.
I found it really hard to leave out someone like Joe Cooney, but I just couldn't look beyond those three guys...
Daly: I'm not going to disagree with you. I would go with those three. I picked out Joe Cooney as well, how good was he? Ken McGrath could be in the argument as well because he was superb...
There was so many we could have picked, but those three have to be there. I'll probably disagree with ye on the inside line a bit, but those three have to be there.
Nash: The only difference I had was that I had Joe Canning inside for a while, because that's where I hated to see him playing against me. But I put him back out into the half forward line.
They were three players that could win a game on their own for you. I think that warrants it.
Sheedy: It just tells you the calibre of player we're talking about, because the calibre of forward we've had for the last 50 years has been incredible. To think that those three guys have got the nine votes, it tells you where they've been and what they've done in the game over the last 20 years.
Unfortunately they broke my heart more so!
There would be some scoring done in that half-forward line.
Here is the team the lads selected in full.
15 For 50 - Final Team of Anthony Daly, Liam Sheedy, and Anthony Nash:
1. Noel Skehan - Kilkenny
All-Star 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983
2. JJ Delaney - Kilkenny
All-Star 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014
3. Brian Lohan - Clare
All-Star 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002
4. Brian Corcoran - Cork
All-Star 1992, 1999, 2004
5. Tommy Walsh - Kilkenny
All-Star 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
6. Padraic Maher - Tipperary
All-Star 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
7. Brian Whelahan - Offaly
All-Star 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999
8. John Fenton - Cork
All-Star 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
9. Frank Cummins - Kilkenny
All-Star 1971, 1972, 1982, 1983
10. Joe Canning - Galway
All-Star 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018
11. Henry Shefflin - Kilkenny
All-Star 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
12. TJ Reid - Kilkenny
All-Star 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020
13. Nicky English - Tipperary
All-Star 1983, 1984, 1085, 1987, 1988, 1989
14. Jimmy Barry-Murphy - Cork
All-Star 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1986
15. DJ Carey - Kilkenny
All-Star 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002
SEE ALSO: 15 For 50 - The All-Star Hurling Team Of The Last 50 Years, As Chosen By The Experts
