Hurling enthusiasts have been treated to an absolute feast of games so far this year as the new round-robin system guarantees weekly classics. Already we've seen Galway lay a big marker down against Kilkenny, Tipperary come within a point of back-to-back losses and Westmeath storm to the top of the Joe McDonagh Cup undefeated.
A common concern surrounding the All-Stars is that too often it feels like one good semi-final/final performance overrides more consistent stars in the earlier rounds. In order to address this, Balls.ie introduced the rolling All-Stars. Every round we'll consider the best performances and compare them to the existing holder. For example, Anthony Nash was outstanding last weekend for Cork, but was it enough to overcome the brilliance of Eoghan Cahill against Galway from round one?
Here is the second round of the rolling All-Stars:
1. Eoghan Cahill (out) - Anthony Nash (in)
Tipperary's second-half comeback brought them right back level from nine points down, but they could have won it if not for a world class save from Nash at the death.
What an unbelievable save by Cork's Anthony Nash! pic.twitter.com/WsRoVoKYul
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 27, 2018
2. Warren Kavanagh - Stays
The lower tiers have been somewhat ignored this year, yet this Wicklow star was brilliant against Mayo in a potentially huge year for his county in the Christy Ring Cup.
3. Ben Conneely (out) - Daithi Burke (in)
Conneely is the victim of three games in three weeks as one of Offaly's best players this season was cramping up during the warm-up last Saturday. At the heart of Galway's defense, Burke was magnificent and commanded the square when Kilkenny threatened to penetrate.
4. Adrian Tuohy - Stays
Another impressive defender in Micheál Donoghue's combative rearguard. The team to beat this year.
5. Padraic Mannion - Stays
Mannion was always a technically brilliant wing-back but he has added steel to that skill over the past two years and has become a real force as Galway's undefeated start to the Championship continues.
6. Joe Maskey (out) - Gearoid McInerney (in)
Maskey was tremendously unfortunate to have his Championship ended due to injury but McInerney is a fitting replacement as the Galway man enjoyed a terrific afternoon's hurling in Pearse Stadium last Sunday.
7. Chris Crummey - Stays
It's easy to see why the 23-year-old was appointed Dublin captain during the league. Desperately unlucky to be on the losing side two weeks in a row but the big one comes this week as they face Offaly in a relegation decider.
8. James Maher (out) - Tony Kelly (in)
Kelly hit six points as Clare bounced back from defeat against Cork to overcome Waterford, recovering from a big hit from Kevin Moran. Team-mate Peter Duggan is clearly a fan.
Do you think Peter Duggan rates Tony Kelly? pic.twitter.com/g52zPapSNK
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) May 27, 2018
9. Shane Kinsella (out) - Noel McGrath (in)
Wexford's Sean Murphy unlucky to miss out but McGrath drove his side's comeback and was defiant in the aftermath. Grabbed a great goal on top of it all.
Goal for Tipperary's Noel McGrath! pic.twitter.com/Wk7Xh6wCta
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 27, 2018
10. Aonghus Clarke - Stays
Westmeath are on fire and on course for a Croke Park showdown with three wins from three so far. Clarke Kicked on for 0-7 against Meath to land a crucial 70th-minute equaliser against Kerry that spurred his team on to a three-point win.
11. Conal Keaney (out) - Rory O'Connor (in)
Keaney's injury woes see the Wexford half-forward shift him, while O'Connor's brother Jack is unlucky to miss out.
12. Nigel Elliot (out) - Aaron Gillane (in)
Limerick made a statement with their win over Tipperary and Gillane was at the heart of it. A huge challenge awaits this week as they face Munster champions Cork.
13. Jack Goulding (out) - Shane Kingston (in)
Kingston was at the heart of Cork's exciting attacking arsenal on Sunday and finished with 1-05. Goulding should still have a big say in the Joe McDonagh Cup with Kerry.
14. Liam Rushe (out) - John Conlon (in)
Man-of-the-match against the Déise with 1-03.
15. Brian Concannon (out) - John McGrath (in)
When Tipp needed him most McGrath stood up and hit 0-5 on the way to a dramatic comeback. Tipperary looked dead and buried at half-time, but with talent like McGrath giving everything to the cause only a fool would write them off yet.
John McGrath -Shooting Heat Map - 2017 Inside line .... 2018 Half Forward Line - Actual Pts v Expected Points - RIDICULOUS. He has a game cheat code. There is no more deadly hurler than @mcgrathjohn10. #gaa pic.twitter.com/v0dbmjfD71
— Barry Cleary (@sheikhbarabas) May 29, 2018
Congratulations to John McGrath - @LittlewoodsIRL Ireland Man of the Match after todays Munster Championship Round 2 clash with Cork in Semple Stadium 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/gbEku4U5QG
— Tipperary GAA (@TipperaryGAA) May 27, 2018
