With Limerick trying to achieve something that Brian Cody and his famous Kilkenny couldn’t do and win five All-Irelands in a row, now is the perfect time to see who would make a combined 15 of both famous sides.
Such is the class in these two panels that we'd had to omit the likes of Richie Power, Jackie Tyrell and Diarmaid Byrnes.
1. Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
The Limerick shot-stopper is the crucial cog in the Limerick setup. With his laser-eye puck-outs and cat-like reflexes, he's a dead cert on this team.
2. Sean Finn (Limerick)
The human bull is the toughest cornerback in the modern game. He would perfectly adapt to any generation, especially with his 36-inch size hurl.
3. JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
Ok, so we are slightly cheating here as JJ played wingback during this period of dominance; however, there was no way you could leave this legend out of a combined 15.
20 June 2009; JJ Delaney, Kilkenny, fields the sliothar ahead of Joe Canning, Galway. GAA Hurling Leinster Senior Championship Semi-Final, Kilkenny v Galway, O'Connor Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
4. Barry Nash (Limerick)
Nash is more of a modern-day cornerback but has gradually made the position his own since swapping the forwards to the backs.
5. Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
3 July 2005; Tommy Walsh, Kilkenny. Guinness Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final, Kilkenny v Wexford, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit; Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
There was no way we could leave arguably the greatest wingback of a generation out of this team. The man oozes class.
6. Declan Hannon (Limerick)
The Limerick captain is the anchor of the Limerick defence and a dead cert on this team
7. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
With speed, strength, power and skill, Hayes is the complete package that can play anywhere on the field, but he has made wing back his home with long bursting runs and critical scores
8. Will O’Donoghue (Limerick)
The green machine is an animal in the middle of the park that eats players up in the ruck ball
9. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
O’Donovan is the complete midfielder with the lungs of a marathon runner and the strength of a rugby player. He is impossible to stop when he gets going
10. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
Hegarty delivers on the big day for Limerick’s key moments in the previous All-Ireland, which awarded him man of the match, proving he's the man for the main occasions.
17 July 2022; Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
11. Cian Lynch (Limerick)
Lynch is the key man for Kiely’s men. His free-roaming role, where he hunts for space to get on possession so they can play killer passes for his teammates, makes him the ultimate team player.
12. Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny)
Larkin is the role model for any wing forward. He wins his own ball, scores, and works like a dog. His first name was on Cody’s team sheet.
13. Aaron Gillane ( Limerick)
The current hurler of the year is a nightmare for any defender to mark. His aerial ability and eye for goal make him one of the game's greatest forwards.
14. Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)
Arguably the greatest hurler of all time, King Henry was the ultimate marksman and a dead cert on this team
15. Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny)
Rapid Eddie was always lethal for a goal and usually popped up when Kilkenny needed it the most.
Manager Brian Cody
Winning All-Ireland isn’t easy, so the manager with the most experience should lead this team. Yes, Kiely could argue he has managed tougher situations with the jungle, which is the Munster championship round-robin, but Cody just about gets the nod.
