The official Opel Gaelic Team of the Year for Hurling for 2009 has been announced today by the Gaelic Players Association. The team reflects the most successful counties in this year’s championship, with 15 players hailing from four different counties; Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Galway.

All-Ireland champions Kilkenny have eight representatives – PJ Ryan, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrell, Tommy Walsh, Michael Rice, Eddie Brennan, Henry Shefflin and Eoin Larkin. Losing All-Ireland finalists Tipperary have five players included – Conor O’Mahony, Padraic Maher, Shane McGrath, Seamus Callanan and Lar Corbett. The remaining places on the 2009 Opel Gaelic Team of the Year for Hurling are filled by Galway’s Ollie Canning and Waterford’s John Mullane.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Hurling Selection Committee, Donal O'Grady, said “Being recognised by your fellow players is a wonderful honour for any hurler and I would like to congratulate the 15 chosen on this year’s Opel GPA Hurling Team. As a committee we selected our three most deserving nominees for each position along with six midfielders, and the players then made the ultimate choice.”

Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players' Association said, “Congratulations to the 2009 Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year. Given Kilkenny’s historic achievement this year it’s no surprise that they have been acknowledged by their fellow players and thus dominate the Opel GPA selection. However, Tipperary’s significant contribution to the campaign is also reflected in the line-up. I would like to thank all the players who voted and our selection committee for their work throughout the season. Thanks to Opel for their unrivalled support for the Gaelic Players Awards.”

Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland, said, “We at Opel are proud to recognise and reward the contributions of the fifteen individuals named on the Opel Gaelic Team of the Year for Hurling during the course of the 2009 Championship. We look forward to meeting the team and announcing the Hurler of the Year at the Opel GPA Awards 2009 Gala Night on Friday, 6th November in the Citywest Hotel.”

2009 Opel Gaelic team of the Year for Hurling:

1. PJ Ryan (Kilkenny)
2. Ollie Canning (Galway)
3. JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
4. Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny)
5. Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
6. Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary)
7. Padraic Maher (Tipperary)
8. Shane McGrath (Tipperary)
9. Michael Rice (Kilkenny)
10. Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny)
11. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
12. Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny)
13. John Mullane (Waterford)
14. Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)
15. Lar Corbett (Tipperary)

NOMINEES FOR OPEL GPA PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR HURLING:

• Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
• Lar Corbett (Tipperary)
• John Mullane (Waterford)