The An Post GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium was chosen in 2000 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three full-backs, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards, the best hurling team of all-time. [1]
The team, announced by GAA President Seán McCague on 24 July 2000 at a special function in Croke Park, was selected by a special committee, comprising five past GAA presidents - Joe McDonagh, Con Murphy, Paddy Buggy, Pat Fanning and Séamus Ó Riain - as well as GAA director-general Liam Mulvihill and four Gaelic games journalists: Paddy Downey, Mick Dunne, Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin and Jim O'Sullivan.
The initiative was sponsored by An Post , who issued special commemorative stamps of the millennium team members. [2]
While universal agreement on such a team would prove impossible, the selection committee came in for some criticism regarding omissions and changes from the earlier GAA Hurling Team of the Century. [3]
Kilkenny's D. J. Carey was seen as a shock omission from the team. As the holder of a then record seven All-Stars, Carey, whose inter-county career began in 1989, was seen as one of the greatest goal-scorers of his era and was hotly tipped to get one of the half-forward spots for which he was nominated. [4] [5]
The 1990s were regarded as a golden age of hurling with many new teams emerging, however, this was not reflected in the team. Clare's Brian Lohan had been tipped for full-back but Wexford's Nick O'Donnell held on. There were no places for any of the Clare team that emerged to win two championships in the nineties. Brian Whelehan was the only player from the previous 20 years to make the team.
An absence of players from Galway also sparked off major controversy in that county where the selection committee were accused of belittling the county by not recognising any of its heroes. [6]
There was anger too in Wexford over the dropping of full-forward Nicky Rackard from the Team of the Century. Former midfielder Dave Bernie, who won an All-Ireland medal in 1968, when Rackard was a selector, said Wexford fans were stunned by the news he had not been included.
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring was an Irish hurler whose league and championship career at senior level with the Cork county team spanned twenty-four years from 1939 to 1963. He established many championship records, including career appearances (65), scoring tally (33–208) and number of All-Ireland medals won (8); however, these records were subsequently bested by a number of players. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game, with many former players, commentators and fans rating him as the number one player of all time.
Nicholas Rackard was an Irish hurler whose league and championship career with the Wexford senior team spanned seventeen years from 1940 to 1957. He established many championship scoring records, including being the top championship goal-scorer of all time with 59 goals. Rackard is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game.
Denis Joseph Carey is an Irish former hurler who played as a left wing-forward at senior level for the Kilkenny county team.
Robert "Bobby" Rackard was an Irish hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Wexford senior team.
Billy Rackard was an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who played as a centre-back for the Wexford senior teams.
John Doyle was an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-back at senior level for the Tipperary county team.
The 2005 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 119th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament, since its establishment in 1887. The draw for the provincial fixtures took place on 17 October 2004. The championship began on 15 May 2005 and ended on 11 September 2005.
Martin Charles Reddington, better known as Tony Reddin, was an Irish hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Galway and Tipperary senior teams.
Nicholas "Skinny" O'Donnell was an Irish hurler who played as a full-back for the Kilkenny and Wexford senior teams.
Liam Griffin is an Irish former hurler and manager. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Rosslare and Newmarket-on Fergus with the Wexford and Clare senior inter-county teams in the 1960s. Griffin later served as manager of the Wexford senior inter-county team from in 1995 and 1996. Later he was instrumental on the Hurling Development Committee that established the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup for weaker hurling counties. In 2009 he was named in the Sunday Tribune's list of the 125 Most Influential People In GAA History.
Thomas English, known as Theo English, was an Irish hurler and coach. As a player, he was noted as a tactician with "good ball control and excellent stickwork". English was, at the time of his retirement, the longest-serving midfielder the Tipperary senior hurling team ever had, and has been described as "one of Tipp[erary]'s finest hurlers".
Timothy Flood was an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-forward for the Wexford senior team.
Seir Kieran is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in a parish and Electoral Division of the same name in Ireland. Seir Kieran takes its name from Saint Ciarán of Saighir, who founded the parish as a civitas in the 5th century. The club's playing facilities are situated in the village of Clareen in County Offaly, Ireland.
Pádraig Walsh is an Irish hurler who plays for Kilkenny Senior Championship club Tullaroan and previously at inter-county level with the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a centre back
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.
Conor McDonald is an Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship club Naomh Éanna and at inter-county level with the Wexford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a full-forward.
The Wexford county hurling team represents Wexford in hurling and is governed by Wexford GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and the National Hurling League.
The Meath county hurling team represents Meath in hurling and is governed by Meath GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Christy Ring Cup and the National Hurling League.
The Armagh county hurling team represents Armagh GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of hurling. The team competes in the Nicky Rackard Cup and the National Hurling League.
The Donegal county hurling team represents Donegal in hurling and is governed by Donegal GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Nicky Rackard Cup and the National Hurling League.