When the All-Stars ceremony would normally take place, the 2020 championship was commencing in this strange season. The football All-Stars were announced on Friday morning with Dublin dominating with nine players featuring but there was room for runners-up Mayo and unlikely provincial winners Cavan and Tipperary.
The hurlers will find out tonight who makes the fifteen and it will be expected that the Limerick contingent follow the Dublin footballers. These are my predictions, along with Young Hurler and Hurler of the Year.
1. Nickie Quaid (Limerick)
Limerick's game starts from the back with the goalkeeper's puck-outs and Quaid's accuracy is so important. He conceded just three goals in five games (and John McGrath's shouldn't have counted). an assured presence between the sticks.
2. Sean Finn (Limerick)
An All-Star in the past two seasons, Finn is back again. A consistent performer, in two matches against the in-form Dessie Hutchinson he only got 0-2.
3. Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
Injuries forced John Kiely to reshape Limerick's full-back line and Morrissey, a wing-back in Limerick's 2018 triumph, came into the last line of defence and was imperious.
4. Daithi Burke (Galway)
Slightly to the left of his normal full-back position, the Turloughmore man put in a stellar performance against Limerick to keep his county in with a chance right until the end.
5. Calum Lyons (Waterford)
One of Liam Cahill's young guns. The Ballyduff Lower man exemplifies the attacking wing-back, scoring a terrific goal against Cork in the Munster semi-final and added points in many matches. Limerick right wing-back Diarmuid Byrnes was probably the hardest player to leave out, which is testament to Lyons.
6. Tadhg de Burca (Waterford)
Back from a cruciate injury, it was heartbreaking that de Burca's final was cut short through the same injury. He will be on the sidelines for a while but his role as the sweeper, particularly against Cork, were so impressive and a reminder of why the 26-year-old will be such a big miss.
7. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
Eyebrows were raised when 2018 Young Hurler of the Year and wing-forward Hayes was picked in the half-back line against Tipperary. Like Lyons, Hayes' attacking play was a joy to watch, his marauding runs down the left, and the ball he provided to the Limerick forwards made it easy for them.
8. Will O'Donoghue (Limerick)
A lot is made of the physicality Limerick bring to the pitch and nobody shows that more than O'Donoghue. He is the enforcer in the middle of the pitch that allows their attacking talent to shine.
9. Tony Kelly (Clare)
Kelly lit up the championship with his glorious displays. He looked unstoppable as he scored 0-17 vs Limerick, 0-13 vs Laois, 1-15 vs Wexford and 0-8 vs Waterford. 1-53 in total, 1-20 from play, it was such a shame an innocuous ankle injury in the quarter-final versus Waterford meant Kelly exited with a whimper.
10. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
The half-forward line is where Limerick are most deadly. Hegarty scored 0-7 from play in the All-Ireland final in a man of the match performance and is a shoe-in for an All-Star.
11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Age is just a number when it comes to Ballyhale man. At 33, he carried Kilkenny's attacks on his own. Important goals against Dublin and Galway, to end a four-year "drought" without winning Leinster, and another in the All-Ireland semi-final.
12. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
Not to be outdone by his brother, Morrissey was outstanding in the All-Ireland final, registering 0-5 and setting up more for his teammates. A lot were surprised that he was left out of the three-man shortlist for Hurler of the Year but it appears that prevent another 2016 from happening, only one player from each county will be nominated. Morrissey can count himself unlucky.
13. Stephen Bennett (Waterford)
With captain and talisman Pauric Mahony ruled out, Bennett rose to the challenge and led Waterford to another final. His goal against Kilkenny sparked the 11-point comeback to win by four in a pulsating contest. He finished top scorer with a mighty 1-54 and was rewarded with a Hurler of the Year nomination.
14. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
Arguably the most important goal for Limerick was Gillane's first against Tipperary as it was a minute after Jake Morris' opener and reasserted the Treaty's four-point lead, and they never looked back. As reliable as ever from placed balls and constant challenge to full-backs.
15. Dessie Hutchinson (Waterford)
The ex-professional footballer showed he can do it with a smaller ball on the inter-county stage, continuing his form with his club, Ballygunner. His 2-2 against Clare was the difference in the quarter-final and he will look to build upon a promising season for the Deise.
Hurler of the Year: Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
It is such a tough choice for Hurler of the Year. If Tony Kelly doesn't roll his ankle, Clare stand a much better chance of reaching the semi-final and he would've been integral in that. Scoring 0-7 from play in an All-Ireland final, though, cannot be ignored. Hegarty deserves it for another stellar season in the green of Limerick.
Young Hurler of the Year: Jake Morris (Tipperary)
Slim pickings for the Young prize. No candidate among Morris, Kilkenny's Eoin Cody and Iarlaith Daly of Waterford really stood out. Morris scored two goals - his second a crucial winner against Cork - and is probably the most worthy out of the three, even if this is third season on the panel but first as a starter.
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