Tipperary’s consistency in selection sees them edge Kilkenny in hurling All Stars

All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary emerged from Friday night's presentation of the GAA GPA All Stars, sponsored by Opel, at Dublin's Convention Centre with all but two of the hurling awards for this season. This is a record haul for finalists since the scheme began 43 years ago.

Champions Kilkenny ended up with one fewer than beaten finalists Tipperary, which coincidentally also happened when they last won the All-Ireland two years ago after a replay with Galway.

It was obviously to Tipperary's benefit that their team selection was stable throughout the All-Ireland series whereas Kilkenny manager Brian Cody changed his line-up for all matches, including the All-Ireland replay which was arguably decided by the changes he made.

Richie Power can count himself unlucky in that his season had a similar profile to football All Star Kieran Donaghy. Both came into tightly balanced semi-finals and had a transformative effect on the contests before going on to play two more matches in which they both scored goals, in Power's case three.

The two hurlers from elsewhere are both Limerick players, Séamus Hickey at left corner back and Shane Dowling at left corner forward.

Leading the way in total awards this year is Kilkenny full back JJ Delaney, who wins his seventh, four behind the record set by his team-mate Henry Shefflin, who has 11.

Other headlines from last night's awards banquet include new Players of the Year with Kerry's James O'Donoghue winning the football award for the first time and Kilkenny's centrefielder Richie Hogan taking the hurling equivalent, also his first.

For only the second time in the history of the All Stars the Munster hurling champions aren’t represented. Cork, whose season foundered in the All-Ireland semi-final against old rivals Tipperary, fail to get any representatives despite having defeated Limerick, two of whose team have been honoured, in the Munster final.

After Delaney the next most honoured player is Tipperary's Pádraic Maher whose award at centre back is the third in his career. They are followed by five players earning their second awards, Brendan Maher and Shane McGrath from Tipperary, for the first time since 2008, and Kilkenny's Paul Murphy, Richie Hogan and TJ Reid.

In total there are eight first-time winners. Tipperary goalkeeper Darren Gleeson's chance arose because the team's previously long-serving goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, a five-time All Star winner, retired last year.

The two Limerick players, Séamus Hickey and Shane Dowling are winning their first awards, although the former was chosen as Young Hurler of the Year in 2007.

Other newcomers are: Kilkenny's Cillian Buckley, whose return to form after a year disrupted by injury made him the mainstay of the team's half-back line and Colin Fennelly as well as Tipperary forward trio John O'Dwyer, Patrick Maher and Séamus Callanan.

2014 Hurling All Stars: Darren Gleeson (Tipperary); Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Séamus Hickey (Limerick); Brendan Maher (Tipperary), Pádraic Maher (Tipperary), Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny); Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), Shane McGrath (Tipperary); John O'Dwyer (Tipperary), Patrick Maher (Tipperary), TJ Reid (Kilkenny); Colin Fennelly (Kilkenny), Séamus Callanan (Tipperary), Shane Dowling (Limerick).
Hurler of the Year: Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Young Hurler of the Year: Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
Christy Ring Cup Hurler of the Year: Gerry Keegan (Kildare). Nicky Rackard Cup Hurler of the Year: Damian Casey (Tyrone). Lory Meagher Cup Hurler of the Year: Martin Coyle (Longford).
Footballer of the Year: James O'Donoghue (Kerry)
Young footballer of the Year: Ryan McHugh (Donegal)