Limerick duo nominated for GPA team of the year

TWO Limerick hurlers have been nominated for Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year – Adare’s Mark Foley has been nominated for left wing-back while Murroe-Boher Seamus Hickey has been nominated at midfield.


The nominees were announced on Wednesday afternoon when a grand total of 45 players were short listed while three players also received nominations for the prestigious Opel GPA Hurler of the Year Award - the shortlist for the Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year includes three players for each position reflecting the dominant role played by the player during the 2009 season. The list contains players from seven counties including; Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Dublin and Galway.
The three nominees for the Opel GPA Player of the Year for Hurling, as chosen by the Hurling Selection Committee are: Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Lar Corbett (Tipperary) and John Mullane (Waterford).
The shortlists were drawn up by a selection committee headed up by Chairman Donal O’Grady. The winners will be selected by GPA members.
Nominees for Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year: 1. Brendan Cummins (Tipperary), Donal Óg Cusack (Cork), PJ Ryan (Kilkenny). 2. Ollie Canning (Galway), Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Paddy Stapleton (Tipperary). 3. Tomás Brady (Dublin), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Eoin Cadogan (Cork). 4. Oisín Gough (Dublin), Shane O’Neill (Cork) ,Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny). 5. Declan Fanning (Tipperary), Stephen Hiney (Dublin), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny). 6. John Lee (Galway), Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary), Michael Walsh (Waterford). 7. Mark Foley (Limerick), Padraic Maher (Tipperary), John Tennyson (Kilkenny). 8-9. Seamus Hickey (Limerick), Alan McCrabbe (Dublin), Shane McGrath (Tipperary), Stephen Molumphy (Waterford), Michael Rice (Kilkenny), James Woodlock (Tipperary). 10. Eddie Brennan Kilkenny, Aonghus Callanan (Galway), Ben O’Connor Cork. 11. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary) ,Martin Comerford (Kilkenny), Cyril Donnellan (Galway). 12. Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny) ,John O’Brien (Tipperary), Andy Smith (Galway). 13. Noel McGrath (Tipperary) ,John Mullane (Waterford), David O’Callagan (Dublin). 14. Joe Canning (Galway), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny). 15. Lar Corbett (Tipperary), David Treacy (Dublin), Eoin Kelly (Waterford).
The Opel GPA Awards culminate in a Gala Evening on Friday, November 6 in the City West Hotel, Dublin when the Opel GPA Hurling and Football Teams of the Year are presented with their Awards on stage and the Opel GPA Hurler and Footballer of the Year are chosen on the night. Each player on the winning team receives a trophy, €2,500 and a comprehensive set of training and leisure gear. The chosen Hurler and Footballer of the Year each receive an Opel vehicle to the value of €25,000 in addition to the above.

Brian McDonnell