All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny have rounded off another superb year with news this evening that eight of their players have been selected for the 2003 Voadfone All-Star team.
Michael Kavanagh, Derek Lyng, Henry Shefflin and Martin Comerford are named on the All-Star team for the second successive year while team-mates JJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh and Eddie Brennan win their first awards. Defender Noel Hickey collects his second accolade having been selected on the 2000 team.
Cork, the team Kilkenny beat in September's final, have four representatives with the O'hAilpin brothers Sean Og and Setanta and Ronan Curran winning their first awards while sharp-shooting corner forward Joe Deane is named for the third time.
Tipperary, Waterford and Galway complete the All-Star make-up with goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, forward John Mullane and defender Ollie Canning filling the positions respectively. It is the third time Cummins has been selected, the second for Canning while Mullane, scorer of 3-1 in the Munster final against Cork, is a recipient for the first time.
The players will receive their awards at a banquet in Dublin's City West Hotel on Friday night when the All-Star football selection will also be announced live on television.
Commenting on the 2003 team make-up, GAA president Sean Kelly said: "The All Star selection this year shows the depth of talent in hurling and also represents the emergence of new talent that guarantees we will be enjoying great hurling clashes for years to come."
The 2002 and 2003 All-Star hurling teams will play an exhibition match against each other in Phoenix on January 24th. The travelling parties depart Dublin for the United States, where they will also visit Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, on January 21st before returning on January 29th.
Yesterday, Kilkenny manager Brian Cody was named as manager for the 2003 team while former Clare boss Cyril Lyons will oversee last year's selection.
2003 Vodafone All-Star Hurling team: Brendan Cummins (Tipperary); Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Noel Hickey (Kilkenny), Ollie Canning (Galway); Sean Og O'hAilpin (Cork), Ronan Curran (Cork), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny); Derek Lyng (Kilkenny), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny); John Mullane (Waterford), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny); Setanta O'hAilpin (Cork), Martin Comerford (Kilkenny), Joe Deane (Cork).