Six Leading Candidates For Hurler Of The Year After The Provincial Championships

The provincial championships have given us plenty of contenders for Hurler of the Year.

With the All-Ireland series still to come, plenty can change over the next few weeks. One semi-final or final performance can often define the race. But as things stand, these six players have done enough to put themselves firmly in the conversation for hurling's biggest individual honour.

Goalkeepers rarely receive the recognition they deserve in Hurler of the Year discussions, but Nickie Quaid has been impossible to ignore.

The 37-year-old was named man of the match in the Munster final after producing one of the saves of the season to deny Diarmuid 'Dudsy' Healy. Add in his leadership, composure and puckout accuracy and he remains one of the most important players in the country.

If Limerick go on to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup, Quaid will have a very strong case. If he were to win it he'd be the first goalie since Ger Cunningham claimed the Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1986.

The Galway forward announced himself to a wider audience with a stunning Leinster final display.

Monaghan finished with 0-7 from play against Dublin and collected the man of the match award as Galway won their first Leinster title since 2018.

His pace, movement and finishing ability have been a feature of Galway's resurgence under Micheál Donoghue and he heads into the All-Ireland semi-finals with serious momentum.

Monaghan has managed 1-21 from play in the championship so far and if he has a couple more big performances in him he might just scoop the award.

Few forwards have been as consistently dangerous this year as Brian Hayes.

His work-rate is relentless and he has become one of Cork's most important attacking outlets. Whether winning high ball, creating scores or taking them himself, Hayes has repeatedly delivered in the biggest games.

Even in defeat in the Munster final, he was one of Cork's brightest performers, scoring a clever goal in the second half and unlucky not to find the net in the first half.

Limerick's wing-back and winner of this award in 2022 has once again been at the centre of everything good about their championship campaign.

Byrnes has mixed long-range scoring with high-fielding, defensive leadership and has delivered in huge moments throughout the Munster championship.

His ability to influence games from deep remains a massive weapon for John Kiely's men and he stands a great chance of winning the award for a second time.

The 2020 Hurler of the Year continues to thrive on the biggest occasions.

Hegarty produced another towering Munster final performance, finishing with 1-1 and causing Cork problems whenever he got on the ball, in particular when he moved into the full-forward line.

When championship matches become physical battles, there are few players in the country more influential than the St Patrick's clubman.

Dublin may have fallen short in the Leinster final but Brian Hayes emerged from the provincial campaign with his reputation enhanced further.

The Kilmacud Crokes man was a driving force behind Dublin's run to the decider, combining athleticism, physicality and an incredible work-rate.

Dublin's championship journey is not over yet and a big All-Ireland series could yet elevate 23 year old Hayes into genuine contention for the top prize.