Mayo GAA and Tooreen hurling stars Shane Boland and David Kenny picked up their national 2024 Champion 15 team awards at a black tie gala awards ceremony at Croke Park on Friday evening last. The Champion 15 team is a selection of the top hurlers who starred in this year’s Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup campaigns.

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “The longer the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cups go on the more impressive the foresight and inspiration that sparked their inauguration. They are an integral part of the hurling calendar and a key part of the Association’s commitment to hurling.

“Through all the plans and hopes that we have for the future of hurling, let us not forget the outstanding hurlers and ambassadors for the game that are in our midst right now and I salute those who have been selected on this distinguished Champion 15 and thank them for the extraordinary dedication they make.

“This is an honour that will be celebrated by your families and clubs and is richly deserved.”

Gaelic Players Association CEO Tom Parsons said: “While our games are primarily about what we do as teams collectively, it is also important to recognise individual effort and excellence. “These 15 players, drawn from the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups, are rightly being awarded for outstanding championship seasons in 2024.

“The unique nature of this team, with players selected from three different tiers, means these players have had to probably do even more to stand out. Congratulations to you all.

“I hope that those who work so hard to keep hurling alive in the eight counties represented will take some satisfaction too, on seeing their county men rewarded with places on the Champion 15 team.”

Players from the Ring, Rackard, and Meagher were asked to nominate outstanding performers in their competitions, with an independent selection committee adjudicating on the final team based on player performances, supported by video footage and county nominations.