Late Tyrone hurler Damian Casey has been selected on the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Hurling Team of the Year for 2022.
The 29-year-old Dungannon man tragically passed away last June. Regarded as one of the greatest hurlers to come out of the Red Hand County, he scored in every one of his 40 appearances and contributed 0-14 to their tally in the Nickey Rackard Cup final victory over Roscommon at Croke Park.
His selection is the fourth year in a row he has featured on the Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Champion 15 selection, and he is one of three Tyrone hurlers to be named with defenders Dermot Begley and Chris Kearns also honoured on a team made up of players from eight counties.
Christy Ring Cup winners Kildare have five players represented in goalie Paddy McKenna, defenders Rian Boran and the experienced Paul Divilly, with Brian Byrne and James Burke named in attack.
Former Mayo football All Star Keith Higgins, who captained his county to the Rackard Cup last year and reached the Ring final this season, is named in the Champion 15 for the second straight year.
Darren Geoghegan, scorer of 0-9 in the final, is the representative of Lory Meagher winners Louth with beaten finalists Longford represented by midfielder Paddy Lynam.
Derry’s Mark Craig, Sligo’s Andy Kilcullen and Roscommon duo Daniel Glynn and Padraig Kelly complete the selection.
Gaelic Players' Association chief executive Tom Parsons commented: “I want to celebrate the life and hurling talents of the late, great Damian Casey. He again showed in 2022 that he was a hurler that would grace any team or competition.
“But more than that, he was a son and a brother, a teammate and a friend, a leader and a role model. Awards seem insignificant given the loss his parents Seán and Susan and his sisters Louise and Catherine are faced with, but I hope this award will act as a reminder to them of the esteem Damian was held in by the Gaelic games family.
“He will never be forgotten by his fellow players.”
The awards will be presented at a gala black-tie banquet in Croke Park this Friday night, where the Joe McDonagh Team of the Year and the Tailteann Cup Football Team of the Year will also be honoured.
2022 Ring, Rackard & Meagher Champion 15: Paddy McKenna (Kildare); Dermot Begley (Tyrone), Rian Boran (Kildare), Mark Craig (Derry); Chris Kearns (Tyrone), Paul Divilly (Kildare), Padraig Kelly (Roscommon); Paddy Lynam (Longford), Keith Higgins (Mayo); Brian Byrne (Kildare), Andy Kilcullen (Sligo), Damian Casey (Tyrone); James Burke (Kildare), Darren Geoghegan (Louth), Daniel Glynn (Roscommon).
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