Ulster hurlers named on teams of the year

HURLERS from Ulster have been named on the Joe McDonagh and Champion 15 teams of the year.

Down ace Daithi Sands was the sole Ulster player listed on the Joe McDonagh team. It’s his third time to make the side after being selected in 2019 and 2022.

The 2024 Champion 15 team was a selection of the top hurlers who starred in this year’s Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup campaigns.

There are eight counties who have representatives on the final 15, with Christy Ring champions Kildare holding the biggest haul with five slots on the high calibre team.

It is the second time in three years that Derry defender Mark Craig is honoured, while Donegal centurion Stephen Gillespie crowns a season that saw him make his 100 th appearance for Tir Chonaill.

The six forwards, between them, amassed 17-241 across the cup competitions and were led by London full-forward Jack Goulding as the Kerry-native scored 5-50.

The players will be guests of honour at a gala black-tie event hosted at Croke Park this Friday night alongside the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year

The event will be streamed live by the GAA on Youtube from 7pm.

Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the Year 2024

Enda Rowland (Laois)

Diarmuid Conway (Laois)

Ciarán Burke (Offaly)

Ben Conneely (Offaly)

Pádraig Delaney (Laois)

Cillian Kiely (Offaly)

Fionán Mackessy (Kerry)

Paddy Purcell (Laois)

Aidan Corby (Laois)

Aaron Dunphy (Laois)

Killian Doyle (Westmeath)

Killian Sampson (Offaly)

Charlie Mitchell (Offaly)

Brian Duignan (Offaly)

Daithí Sands (Down)

2024 GAA Champion 15
1. Paddy McKenna (Kildare- Christy Ring)
2. Rian Boran (Kildare – Christy Ring)
3. Mark Craig (Derry -Christy Ring)
4. Stephen Gillespie (Donegal – Nickey Rackard)
5. Conan Boran (Kildare – Christy Ring)
6. David Kenny (Mayo – Nickey Rackard)
7. Ryan Bogue (Fermanagh – Lory Meagher)
8. Gerard Gilmore (Donegal – Nickey Rackard)
9. Simon Leacy (Kildare – Christy Ring)
10. Liam McKinney (Donegal – Nickey Rackard)
11. Jack Sheridan (Kildare – Christy Ring)
12. Shane Boland (Mayo – Nickey Rackard)
13. Nicky Kenny (Cavan – Lory Meagher)
14. Jack Goulding (London – Christy Ring)
15. Cian Darcy (Longford – Lory Meagher)