With the Allianz Hurling League for 2024 set to kick-off this weekend, hurling fans from around the country will eagerly watch to see which new faces burst into their county's team for 2024.
Here at Balls.ie, we have selected 12 Hurling Prospects to Watch as the League dawns upon us for 2024.
Seán Rynne (Clare)
14 July 2021; Clare captain Sean Rynne leads his side out to the pitch before the 2021 Electric Ireland Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship Quarter-Final match between Clare and Cork at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
A prominent figure for the Clare U20s last season. Seán Rynne shone against Limerick at U20 level when he hit three points from midfield, including a superb equaliser to rescue a draw for Clare right at the death. This guy looks like a star in the making for the Banner County.
Clare already have injury concerns going into 2024’s season with the long-term injury to Ryan Taylor. Seán Rynne could definitely get some game time under his belt in 2024 as Lohan will need to use his squad wisely, and Rynne’s versatility and leadership could be a massive help to the Banner County as they aim to stop their rivals Limerick from achieving immortality in 2024.
Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing (Dublin)
An energetic forward who has caught the eye for Dublin through the juvenile ranks, and who then impressed throughout the Dioralyte Walsh Cup, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing is a man to watch for the Dubs.
Throughout the Walsh Cup, Ó Dúlaing showed his eye for goal with his bullet against Antrim on the stroke of half-time being a perfect example of this ability he possesses. Dublin have been crying out for a consistent dangerous inside forward and have chopped and changed their full-forward line over the past few seasons. Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing looks like he has the potential to become a mainstay of that line for years to come.
15 ➡️14 ➡️ 13 ➡️ GOAL 🔥
The Dublin full forward line linking up well, before Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing expertly finds the left corner of the net 👏
Watch back all games from the weekend now on https://t.co/8RTIDVIpju 📺@DubGAAOfficial | @gaaleinster pic.twitter.com/y0QI3Yw73L— Clubber (@clubber) January 16, 2024
Seán Ryan (Tipperary)
A championship debutant in 2023 against Clare, and within a minute Seánie Ryan had stuck the ball in the back of the Clare net for his first ever Championship goal. A tremendous introduction to championship hurling for the man from Templederry Kenyons.
Seán Ryan is a Tipperary forward that has tremendous potential, he possesses great pace with an eye for goal, and with Tipperary losing stalwarts like Séamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer over the last two years, there will be spots needing to be filled in the Tipperary forward line. Seán Ryan could be a man to make the difference for Tipperary in 2024.
Declan McLoughlin (Galway)
An exciting talented forward who announced himself to the country with a sensational equaliser for Galway right at the death against Kilkenny in Nowlan Park. Declan McLoughlin showed bravery, leadership and unbelievable ability to fire over that equaliser for the Tribesmen - and there’s plenty more where that came from.
McLoughlin has impressed through the ranks for Galway, and was part of the Galway Minor Hurling Squad that won the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Title in 2019. McLoughlin then went on to feature for the U20s, and he is now ready for his breakthrough with the senior side under Henry Shefflin. Already McLoughlin has featured for Galway this year in the Walsh Cup, and there’s little doubt that Shefflin will have the Portumna man firmly in his plans for the year ahead.
A powerful second half from Galway lands them a 9 point victory over Dublin in tonight's Walsh Cup second round match.
This goal from Declan McLoughlin capped off a fine win in tough conditions. 🌟
FT@Galway_GAA 1-21@DubGAAOfficial 0-15 pic.twitter.com/kCTiGgrvwD— Clubber (@clubber) January 14, 2023
Ben Cunningham (Cork)
Ben Cunningham is a sharp-shooter from St. Finbarr’s in County Cork who has been on the radar for a couple of years, and now it looks like his time to step firmly into the Cork starting lineup in 2024.
Cunningham operates best at centre half forward, and he is deadly accurate from placed balls. This has led people to see Cunningham as the potential successor to Patrick Horgan when the Glen Rovers legend steps away from the Rebels. Horgan would leave massive boots to fill, but there doesn’t look to be a better man than Ben Cunningham for the job.
19 April 2023; Ben Cunningham of Cork during the oneills.com Munster GAA Hurling U20 Championship Round 4 match between Clare and Cork at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
Adam English (Limerick)
A deadly inside forward who has shot the lights out for Limerick through the ranks at juvenile, and also was in red-hot form for his club Doon in the Limerick Club Hurling Championship, Adam English is a hurling prospect to watch this year.
As part of Limerick’s golden era, English already has an All-Ireland medal in his back-pocket. However, you’d be naive to think his hunger won’t grow with that taste of success. As Limerick chase down history in 2024, it is likely they will need every ounce of their strength to get over that historic line, and every member of the panel will be called upon to help get them there. Expect to see Adam English terrorising defences alongside Flanagan, Gillane, Casey and others in the Limerick full-forward line this year.
Look at the wheels on Limerick U20 hurler Adam English ⚡⚡pic.twitter.com/DzYbiPFYLp
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 19, 2021
Cian Byrne (Wexford)
Cian Byrne was the main man for Wexford throughout his time with their U20 side, and his free-taking excellence is a huge potential benefit to Wexford should Keith Rossiter give him this responsibility for the Model County this year.
Already we have seen Cian Byrne get minutes for Wexford during their victorious Dioralyte Walsh Cup campaign, which wrapped up an impressive start for Rossiter as the new manager. As Wexford head into the Allianz League for 2024, we expect to see Byrne handed more minutes so that he will be ready to make an impact on Wexford’s championship aspirations this year.
Adam Screeney (Offaly)
One of the most talked-about young hurlers in the country right now, and for good reason. Offaly hurling has had a torrid decade, and they currently find themselves in the Joe McDonagh Cup, far from their All-Ireland winning days in the 1990s. However, the pride, passion and love for hurling is as strong as ever in the Faithful County, all of which meant that when a young Adam Screeney buzzed around the Offaly forward line, scoring 5-51 and dazzling every defence he came up against on their run to the All-Ireland Minor Final in 2022, the Offaly crowd saw a star player in the making who could lead them back to the All-Ireland Hurling Championship.
Screeney has an abundance of skill, pace and scoring ability. The only caution is that this is his first year at Senior Inter-County Hurling level. However he shone for Kilcormac-Killoughey as they reached the Leinster Club Hurling Semi Finals, beating Wexford champions Naomh Éanna on the way. Based on this, people believe he may be ready to make his impact on the Offaly team this year, but even if he doesn’t, we feel it is only a matter of time before we all see just how good Adam Screeney can be.
“Adam Screeney scores 1-12 as Offaly win Leinster Under-20 final”
Brilliant coverage from 🎥 @SportTG4 pic.twitter.com/xS08AF7qvj— Ray Boyne (@AnalysisGaa) May 18, 2023
Niall Rowe (Kilkenny)
A tenacious defender, Niall Rowe could be the man to finally nail down the opposite corner-back spot to Mikey Butler. Rowe has impressed through the ranks for Kilkenny. He was part of the Kilkenny minor squad that reached the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final in 2020, and he also started at cornerback in the Kilkenny team that defeated Limerick in the All-Ireland U20 Hurling Final in 2022.
After impressing throughout all of these grades, he now looks primed and ready for his shot in the Kilkenny senior setup under Derek Lyng. We expect he will at least get some game time during the Allianz Hurling League, and if Lyng does give him the nod, we feel he has more than enough ability to keep his place once he gets his opportunity.
Colin Coughlan (Limerick)
This towering defender from Ballybrown has been on the Limerick panel since he burst into the squad in 2021. However, along with being one of the most exciting defensive prospects we have seen over the last decade, Coughlan has also arrived at the time when Limerick had the best squad in the county’s history. This has meant he has received limited gametime in those three years. However, whenever he has been called upon, he has always impressed.
In 2024, he turns 22, and he has been waiting in the wings for his big chance to make the difference for Limerick. A great example we can look at for Coughlan is the impact that Cathal O’Neill had for the champions last season, as he shone in the Munster Championship when the Treaty needed him the most. Limerick will be pushed to the pin of their collars again this year, and Coughlan could be the man they turn to for help. If this happens, he will be ready to grab that opportunity with both hands.
Billy Drennan (Kilkenny)
The deadly forward who was involved in Maynooth's Fitzgibbon Cup this year burst onto the scene for Kilkenny when he top-scored for the Cats at minor level in 2019 with 2-66 in 9 matches as they reached the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final where they lost to Galway. Since then, Drennan has shone at U20, achieving the same feat again top-scoring for the Cats with 1-40 in 4 championship matches as Kilkenny beat Limerick in the All-Ireland U20 Hurling Final of 2022, a game in which he won Man of the Match.
Derek Lyng was Kilkenny’s U20 Hurling Manager that year, and in his first year as senior Kilkenny manager, Lyng gave Billy Drennan gametime in the Kilkenny senior side, and immediately Drennan impressed. Unfortunately this streak was cut short by injuries. If Drennan can return to his best, there is no doubt that Derek Lyng trusts his ability, so we expect him to be a prominent figure in the hurling year of 2024 for the Cats.
Another MOTM performance for Kilkenny's Billy Drennan this afternoon, scoring 2-12 for The Cats in their win over Galway 🔥
And he left the best score til last 🚀
Watch the full game here ➡️ https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc@Galmoygaa | @KilkennyCLG | @gaaleinster pic.twitter.com/oVqPMVw9e9— Clubber (@clubber) April 15, 2023
Patrick Fitzgerald (Waterford)
This Ballygunner ace has been on the radar ever since he emerged as a deadly inside forward for the Waterford champions. Along with impressing for Waterford at minor and U20 level, it was remarkable to see just how comfortable he looked alongside the likes of Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony and Pádraic Mahony. He immediately was one of the forwards to look out for in a Ballygunner side that swept everyone aside winning three Munster Club Hurling Championships in a row.
Davy Fitzgerald used him sparingly last season, not wanting to place too much of a burden on a player in his first year at senior level. However, events elsewhere have left Waterford in need of a talisman, with players such as Conor Gleeson, Shane McNulty and most notably Austin Gleeson, all stepping away from the panel for 2024. Patrick Fitzgerald could be their talisman this year. He is still only 20, but if Waterford are to get out of Munster in 2024, we have little doubt that Patrick Fitzgerald would be a driving force in achieving that.
Patrick Fitzgerald adds to Waterford's early lead with an impressive point for his side. pic.twitter.com/4DFdDMNqSH
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 28, 2023
