Three Clare Senior Hurlers have been selected on the Higher Education Independent.ie Rising Stars Hurling team of 2015.
University of Limerick duo David McInerney and Tony Kelly have been selected at centre-back and midfield respectively on the Rising Stars team. McInerney became the first Clareman to captain a Fitzgibbon Cup winning side since Frank Lohan led UCC to glory in 1996. The 2013 All-Star also bridged an eighty one year gap as he was the second man from Tulla to complete such a feat, following in the footsteps of Tommy Daly.
It took two games to separate UL and Waterford Institute of Technology in the Fitzgibbon decider and Ballyea’s Tony Kelly played a pivotal role in guiding UL to glory. He hit six points in the replay while also picking up the man of the match accolade for both the replay and drawn game.
Éire Óg’s David Reidy also secured a spot on the Rising Stars team at corner forward. The LIT student was the main target man for the Davy Fitzgerald managed outfit throughout their campaign. Reidy produced some fine displays for the Limerick institute with his tally of 1-08 versus Carlow IT in the last eight tie being one such example.
Champions UL are rewarded for their success with seven players selected. Finalists WIT have five representatives while semi-finalists LIT and CIT have one representative along with Ryan Cup winners Trinity College getting one player selected on the team.
Tipperary have the biggest representation with five players selected namely; Paul Maher, Brian Stapleton, Tom Fox, Jason Forde and Tommy Heffernan. Waterford have four players chosen with Austin Gleeson, Gavin O’Brien, Martin O’Neill and Pauric Mahony being honoured. Dublin’s Danny Sutcliffe, Brian Troy of Kilkenny and Cork man Cian Buckley complete the chosen fifteen.
