Five Kildare hurlers on Champion 15 from stars across Ring, Rackard & Meagher Cups

Kildare players and officials celebrate with the cup after the Christy Ring Cup final match between Kildare and Derry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

placeholder image — Kildare players and officials celebrate with the cup after the Christy Ring Cup final match between Kildare and Derry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Clane's Paddy Kenna earned the goalkeeping spot in the 2024 team alongside a Naas quartet of Simon Leacy, Jack Sheridan, as well as both Rian and Conan Boran

The GAA has today announced the players who have been selected for the 2024 Champion 15 team, which is a selection of the top hurlers who starred in this year’s Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup campaigns.

Five Kildare played their way into a spot in the 2024 Champion 15 team. The Kildare hurlers lifted another Christy Ring Cup back in June following a dominant campaign and 4-21 to 1-22 win over Derry in Croke Park.

Kildare captain and Clane man Paddy Kenna earned the goalkeeping spot in the 2024 team alongside a Naas quartet of Simon Leacy, Jack Sheridan, as well as both Rian and Conan Boran. The full team is listed at the bottom.

There are eight counties who have representatives on the final 15, with the aforementioned Christy Ring champions Kildare holding the biggest haul with those five slots on the high calibre team. It is the second time in three years that Derry defender Mark Craig is honoured, while Donegal centurion Stephen Gillespie crowns a season that saw him make his 100th appearance for Tir Chonaill.

The six forwards, between them, amassed 17-241 across the cup competitions and were led by London full-forward Jack Goulding as the Kerry-native scored 5-50.

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.

The awards will be presented at a gala black-tie function in Croke Park this Friday night. The award show will be streamed live on the GAA Youtube channel from 7pm and will also feature the awards for the Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the Year and the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year - as well as the presentation of the overall Players of the Year in these championships. Tomorrow will see the Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the year announced and the Tailteann Cup team of the year will then be announced on Thursday.

The full 2024 Champion 15 team;

1. Paddy McKenna (Kildare- Christy Ring)

2. Rian Boran (Kildare – Christy Ring)

3. Mark Craig (Derry -Christy Ring)

4. Stephen Gillespie (Donegal – Nickey Rackard)

5. Conan Boran (Kildare – Christy Ring)

6. David Kenny (Mayo – Nickey Rackard)

7. Ryan Bogue (Fermanagh – Lory Meagher)

8. Gerard Gilmore (Donegal – Nickey Rackard)

9. Simon Leacy (Kildare – Christy Ring)

10. Liam McKinney (Donegal – Nickey Rackard)

11. Jack Sheridan (Kildare – Christy Ring)