The Hurling Team Of The Year So Far, Plus HOTY And YHOTY Frontrunners

The provincial championships in hurling are complete and the All-Ireland series is set to begin this weekend. It's an opportunity to take a breath and look back on the hurling season that has been. Sadly there's only seven games of intercounty hurling left in the year.

There have been some memorable individual performances across the 2025 round robin campaigns, and picking a team of the year so far is pretty challenging. There was no room for the likes of Ronan Maher, Stephen Bennett, John McGrath and Brian Duignan in this team, though all were deserving of a place.

We've also picked our Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year so far.

The Rebels' number one has been steady throughout the campaign, topping it off by winning the first-ever Munster hurling championship penalty shootout.

Has been a steady defender for the Rebels this year and has gained a new lease of life since the captaincy was removed from him.

Lords the air and has been Mr. Consistent at 3 for the Cats. Man of the match in the Leinster final on Sunday and Kilkenny's player of the year.

Liam Cahill has turned the flashy forward at club level into a dogged corner-back at inter-county level.

The best performer in another disappointing season for the Déise. The defence will be built around the Passage man shortly.

Has adjusted to number 6 like a duck to water as a replacement for Declan Hannon.

The launchpad of attack from the halfback line, the O’Loughlin’s Gaels man never leaves the Cats down.

The Doon man has finally gotten his place in the starting 15 and has been full value for his jersey as an attacking midfielder, scoring 2-11 from play so far this championship.

The Hurler of the League carried his form into the provincial championship and topped it all off with a man-of-the-match performance in the final. Converted the huge 65 to send the Munster final to penalties.

3-56 for the Wexford talisman in another disappointing season for the Leinster side. The concern now is what will happen when he decides to retire. Arguably the best hurler of the provincial championships.

A fit Cian Lynch at 11 is a dream to watch as the Patrickswell wizard is simply majestic. He took some punishment on Saturday evening.

Galway scored 2-54 in this year's championship, with Mannion being a one-man band upfront for the Tribesmen, scoring 17 points in one game against Wexford, which was a standout performance.

Simply unmarkable. The best inside forward in the game is a nightmare to mark. The soccer-style assist for the Bull O'Brien's second-half goal was a thing of beauty.

Hayes showed during the league that he has the potential to be the difference for Cork this year as they look to end their All-Ireland famine.

Kilkenny’s most consistent forward for 2025 throughout league and championship

Chin, Mannion, Cian Lynch and Kyle Hayes are all in the reckoning but the man of the match in the Munster final shows the red-hot form the Cork dynamo is currently in.

After finally getting in the Limerick team, the Doon man won’t be giving up the jersey anytime soon.