List of All Stars Awards winners (hurling)

This is a list of all the past winners of the official GAA GPA All Stars Awards in hurling since the first awards in 1971. As an insight to the prominent players of the 1960s, it also includes the unofficial "Cuchulainn" awards presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of Gaelic Weekly magazine.

Since 1971, the All Stars Awards in hurling have been presented annually to a set of fifteen hurlers from that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, who are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year". The shortlist is compiled by a selection committee steering group, while the overall winners are chosen by inter-county players themselves. The All Star is regarded by players as the highest individual award available to them, due to it being picked by their peers.

Limerick hold the record for most All-Star winners in one year with 12 players chosen in the hurling selection for 2021.^[1]

[1]

GK	Goalkeeper
RCB	Right corner-back
FB	Full-back
LCB	Left corner-back
RWB	Right wing-back
CB	Centre-back
LWB	Left wing-back
MD	Midfield
MD	Midfield
RWF	Right wing-forward
CF	Centre-forward
LWF	Left wing-forward
RCF	Right corner-forward
FF	Full-forward
LCF	Left corner-forward

Symbol	Meaning
	Had previously appeared on an All-Stars team
Pos.	Position

Pos.	Player	Winner	Team
GK	Ollie Walsh	1	Kilkenny
RCB	Tom Neville	1	Wexford
FB	Austin Flynn	1	Waterford
LCB	John Doyle	1	Tipperary
RWB	Séamus Cleere	1	Kilkenny
CB	Billy Rackard	1	Wexford
LWB	Larry Guinan	1	Waterford
MD	Theo English	1	Tipperary
MD	Des Foley	1	Dublin
RWF	Jimmy Doyle	1	Tipperary
CF	Mick Flannelly	1	Waterford
LWF	Eddie Keher	1	Kilkenny
RCF	Liam Devaney	1	Tipperary
FF	Jimmy Smyth	1	Clare
LCF	Phil Grimes	1	Waterford

Pos.	Player	Winner	Team
GK	Ollie Walsh	2	Kilkenny
RCB	John Doyle	2	Tipperary
FB	Pa Dillon	1	Kilkenny
LCB	Tom Neville	2	Wexford
RWB	Séamus Cleere	2	Kilkenny
CB	Tony Wall	1	Tipperary
LWB	Pat Henderson	1	Kilkenny
MD	Mick Roche	1	Tipperary
MD	Paddy Moran	1	Kilkenny
RWF	Jimmy Doyle	2	Tipperary
CF	Michael 'Babs' Keating	1	Tipperary
LWF	Eddie Keher	2	Kilkenny
RCF	Tom Walsh	1	Kilkenny
FF	John McKenna	1	Tipperary
LCF	Donie Nealon	1	Tipperary

Pos.	Player	Winner	Team
GK	John O'Donoghue	1	Tipperary
RCB	Tom Neville	3	Wexford
FB	Austin Flynn	2	Waterford
LCB	Kieran Carey	1	Tipperary
RWB	Denis O'Riordan	1	Cork
CB	Tony Wall	2	Tipperary
LWB	Jimmy Duggan	1	Galway
MD	Phil Wilson	1	Wexford
MD	Mick Roche	2	Tipperary
RWF	Jimmy Doyle	3	Tipperary
CF	Pat Carroll	1	Kilkenny
LWF	Pat Cronin	1	Clare
RCF	Donie Nealon	2	Tipperary
FF	John McKenna	2	Tipperary
LCF	Seán McLoughlin	1	Tipperary

Pos.	Player	Team	Appearances	Rationale
GK	Damien Martin	Offaly	1	"For maintaining his very high level of brilliance in a position that invariably produced more than a few top class performances in any one year."
RCB	Tony Maher	Cork	1	"For his dependability. His unobtrusive but completely effective work in defence has always been the great quality of his hurling, particularly so this year."
FB	Pat Hartigan	Limerick	1	"For his contribution as one of the mainstays of Limerick's resurgence in 1971. At full back he showed unyielding stubbornness under the heaviest of pressure."
LCB	Jim Treacy	Kilkenny	1	"For maintaining his position as the outstanding left corner back in the country, for his sportsmanship and calm play in every situation."
RWB	Tadhg O'Connor	Tipperary	1	"For captaining Tipperary in their recapture of the All-Ireland championship. His qualities of leadership and great-hearted spirit were repeatedly in evidence throughout the season."
CB	Mick Roche	Tipperary	1	"For his memorable performances as one of the hurling perfectionists of his era, his true brilliance comes to the surface when the competition is at its hottest."
LWB	Martin Coogan	Kilkenny	1	"For bringing his judgement and experience out of retirement in 1971. His steadying influence was a major reason for the return of the Leinster title to Kilkenny."
MD	John Connolly	Galway	1	"For the admirable hurling style exemplified in his play. His crisp, deft striking of the ball was one but one of his many splendid skills."
MD	Frank Cummins	Kilkenny	1	"For his considerable role in recapturing the Leinster title for Kilkenny and Cork championship for Blackrock. All the promise of his early hurling years blossomed in 1971."
RWF	Francis Loughnane	Tipperary	1	"For his quick incisive forward play. His scoring ability was one of the factors enabling his County to become All-Ireland champions in 1971."
CF	Michael 'Babs' Keating	Tipperary	1	"For his exemplary performance in recovering his County team place and then becoming the inspiration of his team's many fine achievements during the year."
LWF	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	1	"For his consummate artistry, the poise and grace he brings to his chosen sport. For a decade his play has delighted thousands of lovers of the game."
RCF	Mick Bermingham	Dublin	1	"For his stalwart contribution to the Dublin attack during the season. His skill, earnestness and unflagging enthusiasm made him the country's leading scorer in 1971."
FF	Ray Cummins	Cork	1	"For introducing a new degree of subtlety into full-forward play. His perfect coordination and the wide variety of his attacking play continually setting up scores."
LCF	Éamonn Cregan	Limerick	1	"For his speed, elusiveness and powerful shot which unite to make him one of the most successful score-getters of modern times. His effectiveness was strikingly emphasised during 1971."

Pos.	Player	Team	Appearances	Rationale
GK	Noel Skehan	Kilkenny	1	"For loyalty and devotion to his native county: for truly magnificent goalkeeping as he led Kilkenny to their 18th Championship."
RCB	Tony Maher	Cork	2	"For the courage he showed in overcoming injury and returning to demonstrate that his outstanding defensive qualities had not been diminished."
FB	Pat Hartigan	Limerick	2	"For consummate skill as a ball player: for consistency as a dependable defender even when fortune turned against his county."
LCB	Jim Treacy	Kilkenny	2	"For stubbornness and dependability under the sternest pressure and for proving yet again that he is the outstanding left corner back in the country."
RWB	Pat Lawlor	Kilkenny	1	"For his alertness and mobility in defence. His defensive ability contributing so much to his county's success in 1972."
CB	Mick Jacob	Wexford	1	"For his sparkling hurling style, his intelligent understanding of the game and his refusal to give up in the most difficult of situations."
LWB	Con Roche	Cork	1	"For the intensity of purpose and absolute determination which makes him an unshakeable defender: for his classic striking of the ball."
MD	Frank Cummins	Kilkenny	2	"For the self-assurance and poise which makes him a midfielder of highest stature: for another year of power in the middle for Kilkenny."
MD	Denis Coughlan	Cork	1	"For his hard work and devotion to the game and his county and for his dexterity and elegance in his play."
RWF	Francis Loughnane	Tipperary	2	"For his spirit and accuracy in attack and for the incisive forward play that always makes him a danger near the goal."
CF	Pat Delaney	Kilkenny	1	"For his straight-forward hard play which always commands the highest respect from the opposing defence."
LWF	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	2	"For continuing to be the peerless marksman in the game from play and from frees: for his shrewd and brilliant use of the ball."
RCF	Charlie McCarthy	Cork	1	"For his great speed and sheer accuracy which gives him opportunities to score from the most unlikely situation."
FF	Ray Cummins	Cork	2	"For the supremely high standard he continues to set for full-forward play: for his utter unselfishness in bringing his team-mates into the game."
LCF	Éamonn Cregan	Limerick	2	"For his solo-running in attack which can split a defence: for his adaptability in other positions out the field."

Pos.	Player	Team	Appearances	Rationale
GK	Noel Skehan	Kilkenny	2	"For his courageous defiance, his agility and trustworthiness making him the kind of goalkeeper that any player would be happy to have behind him."
RCB	Phil "Fan" Larkin	Kilkenny	1	"For his dependability in defence, which combines with his natural hurling skill to establish him as one of the great corner backs of today."
FB	Pat Hartigan	Limerick	3	"For his undiminished skill and dependability in a very demanding position where quite often brawn is substituted for hurling artistry."
LCB	Jim O'Brien	Limerick	1	"For his rare bravery and mobility: for the all-round splender of his contribution to Limerick's much-delayed return to championship honours."
RWB	Colm Doran	Wexford	1	"For his alertness and sense of judgement, for the crispness of his stroke which played such a sizeable part in regaining the National League title for his county."
CB	Pat Henderson	Kilkenny	1	"For his sheer skill and obstinacy in defence, his tenacious approach and the devotion he continues to give to the game."
LWB	Seán Foley	Limerick	1	"For the fervour he brings to all facets of hurling, and particularly for his dedicated half-back play which contributed so much to Limerick's 1973 successes."
MD	Liam O'Brien	Kilkenny	1	"For his artistic stick-work which he has demonstrated with increasing regularity, and for establishing himself as one of the most elegant and energetic midfielders of recent times."
MD	Richie Bennis	Limerick	1	"For the level-headedness he has so frequently shown in the tightest of situations and for his exceptionally high rate of scoring."
RWF	Francis Loughnane	Tipperary	3	"For his incisive intelligent running which so often splits opposing defences: for the remarkable consistency and accuracy of his marksmanship."
CF	Pat Delaney	Kilkenny	2	"For highlighting just how vigorous play can be totally fair, particularly during his famous attacks towards the opposing goal."
LWF	Éamonn Grimes	Limerick	1	"For his seemingly limitless energy and his desire to work all over the field: qualities which have made him a natural leader and a high scorer."
RCF	Martin Quigley	Wexford	1	"For the wide range of his playing skills, his constancy of purpose and his obvious versatility."
FF	Kieran Purcell	Kilkenny	1	"For the out-and-out hard work he puts into the game. For his power of striking and his adaptability in attack."
LCF	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	3	"For his enormously successful scoring record, his fluency of stroke and his accurate passing which create so many chances for his team mates."

Pos.	Player	Team	Appearances
GK	Pat McLoughney	Tipperary	2
RCB	Niall McInerney	Galway	2
FB	Leonard Enright	Limerick	1
LCB	Jimmy Cooney	Galway	1
RWB	Dermot McCurtain	Cork	2
CB	Sean Silke	Galway	2
LWB	Iggy Clarke	Galway	4
MD	Joachim Kelly	Offaly	1
MD	Mossie Walsh	Waterford	1
RWF	Joe Connolly	Galway	1
CF	Pat Horgan	Cork	1
LWF	Pat Carroll	Offaly	1
RCF	Bernie Forde	Galway	1
FF	Joe McKenna	Limerick	5
LCF	Éamonn Cregan	Limerick	3

Key

Cú Chulainn Awards

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

All Star awards listed by year 1970s

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980s

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990s

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000s

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020s

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Use of colours above

Notes

References

External links