During the course of last year’s championship I kept a tally of players who were making their championship debut. By debut, I mean players playing in the senior All-Ireland hurling championship for the first time either as part of the starting 15 or by coming on as a sub. In American sporting parlance, these players are referred to as rookies. Anyway I counted 61 such rookies. Limerick had most with 9 newcomers whereas Kilkenny only had a solitary player making a debut.
The stand-out rookie was Tipperary’s Noel McGrath who won an All-Star award and was named Young Hurler of the Year.
The full list of rookies is below. How many of these will still be hurling in ten years time? I’ll get back to you in 2020.
Limerick (9)
Stephen Walsh (Glenroe)
James Ryan (Garryspillane)
David Breen (Na Piarsaigh)
Paul Browne (Bruff)
Graham Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
Tomas Condon (Knockaderry)
Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock)
Paudie McNamara (Murroe-Boher)
Brian O’Sullivan (Kilmallock)
Wexford (8)
Peter Atkinson (HWH Bunclody)
Tomas Waters (St Martin’s)
Andrew Shore (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy)
Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn)
Nicky Kirwan (Oulart The Ballagh)
Eanna Martin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans)
Jim Berry (Faythe Harriers)
Brendan Hobbs (Tara Rocks)
Galway (8)
Kevin Hynes (Sarsfields)
Damien McClearn (Loughrea)
Brian Costelloe (Abbeyknockmoy)
Martin Ryan (Kilconieron)
Joe Gantley (Beagh)
Eoin Forde (Clarinbridge)
Eugene McEntee (Portumna)
Andy Coen (Gort)
Tipperary (6)
Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh)
Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh)
Gearoid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)
Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
Laois (5)
Brian Stapleton (Kilcotton)
Owen Holohan (Rathdowney-Erril)
John Purcell (Rathdowney-Erril)
Eoin Costelloe (Portlaoise)
Brian Dunne (The Harps)
Offaly (5)
Colm Coughlan (Seir Kieran)
Derek Morkan (Shinrone)
Odhran Kealey (Kinnitty)
Stephen Wynne (St. Rynagh’s)
James Gorman (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
Clare (4)
John Conlon (Clonlara)
Caimin Morey (Sixmilebridge)
Conor Cooney (O’Callaghans Mills)
Conor McNamara (Scariff)
Cork (4)
Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfields)
Aisake Ó hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh)
Fintan O’Leary (Ballinhassig)
Tadhg Og Murphy (Sarsfields)
Dublin (4)
Oisin Gough (Cuala)
Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
Liam Rushe (St. Patricks)
David Treacy (Cuala)
Antrim (4)
Kevin McGourty (St Galls)
Neil McGarry (Loughgiel Shamrocks)
CJ McGourty (St Galls)
Darren Hamill (Shane O’Neills)
Waterford (3)
Noel Connors (Passage)
Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
Shane Casey (Dunhill)
Kilkenny (1)
Sean Cummins (Rower Inistioge)