Paddy Deegan named AIB Club Hurler of the Year

Despite losing out in last January's All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Final against St Thomas, there was some solace for O'Loughlin Gaels star Paddy Deegan after he was named the Senior Hurler of the Year on Friday night.

The ceremony which took place in Croke Park also crowned the team of the year which had four O'Loughlins players on it as Huw Lawlor, David Fogarty and Mark Bergin joined Deegan in picking up awards.

Deegan was nominated for the individual gong alongside Fogarty who had a fantastic breakout season for the Kilkenny city club as well as David Burke who came back from a cruciate ligament injury to help his club to All-Ireland success.

Deegan's win capped a unique double of sorts for Kilkenny after Dicksboro's Aoife Prendergast took home the camogie equivalent a week earlier.

Outside of the O'Louglin's players, All-Ireland champions St Thomas of Galway picked up six awards, starting with goalkeeper Gerald Kelly and full-back Fintan Burke, while the influential Shane Cooney is named wing back. Evergreen star David Burke was selected in midfield, with Conor Cooney and Éanna Burke named as centre and full-forward respectively.

Munster champions Ballygunner are represented with Dessie Hutchinson winning his third Club Player Award since 2020 with Paddy Leavey honoured for the second year in a row in midfield and Peter Hogan deservedly joining them. The team is completed by the presence of inspirational Cushendall players Paddy Burke at corner-back and Neil McManus at top of the left.

AIB Club Hurling Team of the Year

1 Gerald Kelly (St Thomas’)

2 Paddy Burke (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall)

3 Fintan Burke (St Thomas’)

4 Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)

5 David Fogarty (O’Loughlin Gaels)

6 Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)

7 Shane Cooney (St Thomas’)

8 David Burke (St Thomas’)

9 Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner)

10 Mark Bergin (O’Loughlin Gaels)

11 Conor Cooney (St Thomas’)

12 Peter Hogan (Ballygunner)

13 Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)

14 Éanna Burke (St Thomas’)

15 Neil McManus (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall)