The GPA Hurler of the Year is a hurling award that honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. At the end of every Hurling Championship the members of the Gaelic Players Association, the players 'union', vote on which of its members has played the best hurling in the previous year. As the award is voted on by the players it is often viewed as one of the greatest individual honours. Unlike other Gaelic Athletic Association awards the GPA Hurler of the Year is presented with a new car. In September 2011 the GAA and GPA announced that their respective annual player awards schemes were to merge under the sponsorship of Opel. [1] The first merged awards were given out in 2011. [2]
2022 | Diarmaid Byrnes [3] | Limerick |
2021 | Cian Lynch [4] | Limerick |
2020 | Gearóid Hegarty | Limerick |
2018 | Cian Lynch [4] | Limerick |
2016 | Austin Gleeson | Waterford |
2015 | T.J. Reid | Kilkenny |
2014 | Richie Hogan | Kilkenny |
2013 | Tony Kelly | Clare |
2012 | Henry Shefflin | Kilkenny |
2011 | Michael Fennelly | Kilkenny |
2010 | Lar Corbett | Tipperary [5] |
2009 | Tommy Walsh | Kilkenny |
2008 | Eoin Larkin | Kilkenny |
2007 | Dan Shanahan | Waterford |
2006 | Henry Shefflin | Kilkenny |
2005 | John Gardiner | Cork |
2004 | Seán Óg Ó hAilpín | Cork |
2003 | J. J. Delaney | Kilkenny |
2002 | Henry Shefflin | Kilkenny |
2001 | Tommy Dunne | Tipperary |
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, Gaelic handball, and GAA rounders. The association also promotes Irish music and dance, as well as the Irish language and it also promotes environmental stewardship through its Green Clubs initiative.
The Gaelic Athletic Association-Gaelic Players' Association All Stars Awards are awarded annually to the best player in each of the 15 playing positions in Gaelic football and hurling. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as Player of the Year.
The Gaelic Players Association, or GPA, is the officially recognised player representative body for inter county Gaelic footballers and hurlers in Ireland. The GPA's aim is to promote and protect all aspects of player welfare and to provide an independent voice for players.
The GAA–GPA All-Star Hurler of the Year is a hurling award presented to the player voted as best in the country by all the players from around Ireland. It began in 1995 and honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence.
The Gaelic Athletic Association & Gaelic Player's Association All Stars Footballer of the Year — known for sponsorship reasons as the PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year — is a Gaelic football award. It is presented annually to the footballer who performed outstandingly in that year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
The Gaelic Athletic Association/Gaelic Players Association Young Hurler of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 21 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best during the All-Ireland Championship. The award has been presented since the 1996 All-Ireland Championship and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA). The first winner of the award was Limerick defender Mark Foley. The current holder is Adrian Mullen, who won the award for Kilkenny GAA in 2019. The only 2 players to ever win the award twice are Eoin Kelly, who won it in both 2001 and 2002 and Eoin Cody, 2020 and 2021.
The GAA & GPA All Stars Young Footballer of the Year is an annual award given at the end of the Championship season to a young footballer aged 21 years or younger who is adjudged to have been the best in Gaelic football.
The GPA Gaelic Team of the Year known for sponsorship reason as The Opel Gaelic Team of the Year awards were an awards ceremony to honour the performances of Gaelic Athletic Association players. The awards were judged and awarded by the Gaelic Players Association. In 2011 the GAA and GPA announced that their respective annual player awards schemes were to merge under the sponsorship of Opel. The first merged awards were given out in 2011.
The GPA Footballer of the Year was awarded annually by the Gaelic Players Association, as part of the Opel Gaelic Players awards scheme, established in 2006.
Keith Higgins is an Irish sportsperson. He has played both Gaelic football and hurling for Mayo GAA, the former until his retirement in January 2021. He also plays both sports for his club Ballyhaunis.
Tony Kelly is an Irish hurler who plays for Clare Senior Championship club Ballyea and at inter-county level with the Clare county hurling team. He is the youngest hurler to win Hurler of the Year during 2013 at age 19, when he also won Young Hurler of the Year and the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Known for his skill, pace and athleticism, Tony Kelly is widely considered to be the greatest Clare hurler of all time.
The GAA/GPA Player of the Month is a Gaelic games award that recognises the best hurler each month of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each of the monthly award winners are selected by members of the Gaelic Players' Association from a shortlist nominated by an independent panel, made up of four former players. The awards scheme is officially known as the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month.
The 2015 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 129th staging of the All-Ireland championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887. The draw for the 2015 fixtures took place on 9 October 2014 live on RTÉ2. The championship began on 3 May 2015 and ended on 6 September 2015.
Tadhg de Búrca, sometimes referred to as The Tadhger, is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Intermediate Championship club Clashmore–Kinsalebeg and at inter-county level with the Waterford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a centre-back having previously enjoyed a role as a sweeper.
Pádraic Mannion is an Irish hurler, he also plays as a right wing-back for club side Ahascragh-Fohenagh and at inter-county level with the Galway senior hurling team. His brother, Cathal, also plays for both teams.
Daithí Burke is an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who plays at senior level for the Galway county hurling team and for his clubs Turloughmore and Corofin.
Gearóid M. Hegarty is an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who plays as a right wing-forward for club side St Patrick's and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team. He is a former member of the Limerick senior football team.
Kyle Hayes is an Irish hurler and two-time convicted criminal, who plays for Limerick Senior Championship club Kildimo-Pallaskenry and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a left wing-back. To date he has won 4 all stars, 6 Munster titles, 5 All Irelands and PWC GPA/GAA young hurler of the year in 2018.
Diarmuid O'Keeffe is an Irish hurler. At club level he plays with St Anne's Rathangan and at inter-county level he is a former member of the Wexford senior hurling team. O'Keeffe usually lines out as a midfielder.