Mayo strongly represented in 2021 Champion 15 selection
As winners of the Nicky Rackard Cup this year, Mayo are strongly represented on the 2021 Champion 15 selection.
The three Mayo men taking their place on the team – made up of the best hurlers from the 2021 Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups – are David Kenny, Cathal Freeman and Keith Higgins.
Furthermore, Higgins has been singled out for a personal accolade on the back of an excellent campaign alongside Oisin Kelly of Offaly (Christy Ring Cup) and Sean Corrigan of Fermanagh (Lory Meagher Cup).
Scorer of 1-30 in four matches during Mayo’s Rackard Cup-winning campaign, Higgins has been named Player of the Year in the competition.
The Champion 15 selection contains players from eight counties and features seven who competed in the Ring Cup, five who competed in the Rackard Cup, and three who competed in the Meagher Cup.
Christy Ring Cup winners Offaly have four players on the 15-man selection, while Derry, Sligo, Donegal, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Cavan, as well as Mayo, are also all represented.
Congratulating the winners, Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “I want to salute all of those who have been chosen on the Champion 15 selection. There are eight counties represented across the teams, which is a great reflection of the depth of talent which exists in these competitions. They continue to prove such a successful part of the GAA championship calendar.
“It is a great achievement for the players, their families, their counties and the clubs they represent. I particularly want to congratulate Oisín Kelly, Keith Higgins and Seán Corrigan for having their exceptional Player of the Year feats recognised.”
GPA CEO Tom Parsons added: “The Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups provided great excitement and many memorable moments during the 2021 season, and I want to pay tribute to the 15 players who have been chosen as having given the best individual performances over the course of the competitions.
“A warm word of congratulations too for the three players who have picked up the Player of the Year accolades in their respective championships. All of these award winners should take great pride in being selected.”
The GAA/GPA 2021 Champion 15 Team of the Year in full is: Simon Doherty (Armagh/Rackard); Sean Cassidy (Derry/Ring), Ciarán Burke (Offaly/Ring), Rory Porteous (Fermanagh/Meagher); Enda Shalvey (Cavan/Meagher), Ben Conneely (Offaly/Ring), David Kenny (Mayo/Rackard); Cathal Freeman (Mayo/Rackard), Cormac O’Doherty (Derry/Ring); Damian Casey (Tyrone/Rackard), Gerard O’Kelly Lynch (Sligo/Ring), Seán Corrigan (Fermanagh/Meagher); Oisin Kelly (Offaly/Ring), Eoghan Cahill (Offaly/Ring), Keith Higgins (Mayo/Rackard).