The Sunday Game Hurling Team of the Year for 2022 has been named. It features eight players from three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Limerick, three each from Clare and Kilkenny, and one from Galway.
Goalkeeper
Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
Brendan Cummins: "The confidence that he gives those around him. You can't have a puckout strategy without someone who has attention to detail, and can hit the ball exactly on the money, someone who understands the calls and where they are supposed to be. Nickie Quaid does that. He's just calmness personified. He's a guy that plays outfield for the club (Effin). He could play corner-back, wing-back, as quick as he could play in the goals. He's brought goalkeeping onto that next level.
Fullback line
Seán Finn (Limerick)
Jackie Tyrrell: "Ultra consistent. He's an outstanding corner-back, does the simple things really well. He's so composed on the ball, is always detailed with the most potent attacker."
Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny)
Jackie Tyrrell: "I thought he was outstanding [in the hurling final], and did a really good job on Aaron Gillane."
17 July 2022; Huw Lawlor of Kilkenny in action against Aaron Gillane of Limerick during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Barry Nash (Limerick)
Jackie Tyrrell: He has revolutionised the game as far as the corner-back. He's a key distributor.
Half-back line
Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
Donal Óg Cusack: One of the best half-backs that I've ever seen playing the game was Seanie McMahon. At the time, I think it was 97 points that he'd scored in his career. The impact this guy is having defensively and attacking is incredible.
Declan Hannon (Limerick)
Donal Óg Cusack: "He played the captain's part [in the hurling final], steadied the ship time and time again. He showed so much composure."
Pádraic Mannion (Galway)
Donal Óg Cusack: "Ursula (Jacob), Jackie (Tyrrell), and myself were in Salthill, and he was the go-to person that day that they put back on Eoin Cody. He took up centre-back duties for Galway when they needed him."
3 July 2022; Padraic Mannion of Galway celebrates winning a free during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Limerick and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Midfielders
Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny)
Davy Fitzgerald: "We know him more inside as a forward, but he was incredible. He was all over the field, up and down, 21 to 21. His scoring ability from either side, and his workrate was off the charts.
David Fitzgerald (Clare)
Davy Fitzgerald: "I thought he had a phenomenal year. In the Munster Championship, the amount he scored... His tackling, his support play was incredible. It's as good as I've seen him play."
Half-forward line
Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick)
Ursula Jacob: "He was Player of the Match [in the hurling final], 1-5 from play. His goal in the Munster final was a joy to watch as well. He's just such a powerful player, a leader."
17 July 2022; Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick celebrates with the Liam MacCarthy Cup after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
Ursula Jacob: "He's shown such versatility in the last couple of years, going from half-back to centre-forward. Another leader. Stood up [in the hurling final], got four points from play and was in the fullback line at stages."
Shane O'Donnell (Clare)
Ursula Jacob: "He's back to his best this year after his serious concussion injury. Against Kilkenny, when Clare were struggling, he was one of the players that stood up. Even in that game against Wexford, he was one of the guys that pulled it out of the bag."
Full-forward line
Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
Shane Dowling: "Probably one of his quieter days [in the final]. When Limerick's half-forward line wasn't ticking, he was in devastating form throughout the whole Munster Championship. He gave an exhibition in the semi-final."
TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Shane Dowling: "Do we need to say any more about him? One of the greatest we've ever seen."
Tony Kelly (Clare)
Shane Dowling: "Throughout the Munster campaign [he was great]. He probably didn't have his greatest day in the semi-final, but he carried Clare throughout the Munster campaign. Some of the scores he got were a joy to watch.
2022 Sunday Game Hurling Team of the Year
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