John Egan
John Egan has struck a blow for Kerry hurling by coming out on top with a dominant victory in this week's GAA.ie Hurling Player of the Week vote.
The St Brendan's Ardfert man inspired Kerry's stunning victory over Offaly on Sunday, and was duly rewarded with an impressive 47 per cent of the votes cast on the votes cast on the GAA's official Twitter (@officialgaa), Facebook and Instagram pages.
It left him clear of Kilkenny's TJ Reid in second place, and Clare's Conor McGrath in third.
GAA.ie HURLING PLAYER OF THE WEEK
**1. **John Egan (Kerry) - 3,510 votes (47 per cent)
2. TJ Reid (Kilkenny) - 2,215 votes (35 per cent)
3. Conor McGrath (Clare) - 1,737 votes (23 per cent)
March 20, 2016 will always be remembered as a bittersweet day for Kerry hurling. The joy engendered by beating Offaly - twice All-Ireland champions in the 1990s - was completely warranted, but that joy was dampened when news came through that Wexford's last gasp win over Laois would deny the Kingdom a place in the last eight. No matter, Kerry's win over Offaly was an epic moment for their hurling team and as has been the case already this season, John Egan was their go-to man. His haul of 1-10 included nine placed balls, and his striking was pure and nerveless as he guided over several crucial frees at decisive moments. He also struck a superb and ultimately vital goal at the start of the second half to turn the tide of the game towards the Kingdom. He finished with just shy of half of the vote.
In second place with 30 per cent was Kilkenny's TJ Reid. The Hurler of the Year has made the sublime the routine. Once again, Reid's excellence shone above all others in Kilkenny's win over Dublin at Nowlan Park and the Ballyhale man is now approaching his apotheosis, moving into the exalted territory vacated by the likes of Henry Shefflin, JJ Delaney and Tommy Walsh when they retired in recent years. Reid looks totally free at the moment; always in space, always in control. He whipped over 0-11 against Dublin, including five from play, three of which were registered by the end of the first quarter. Aside from his ruthless scoring, Reid's general play was marked by a grace reserved for the greatest of players. On current form, he is by a distance the best hurler in Ireland.
In third place with 23 per cent was Clare's Conor McGrath. There are many hurling observers who look upon the Clare hurlers as an oil prospector might look upon a certain expanse of land or sea - he knows the oil is there, he just has to work out how to get it out. McGrath sums up that quandary for Clare. A sublime hurler who starred in their All-Ireland triumph of 2013, McGrath, like most of his teammates, burns with talent but hasn't shown it often enough in the last two seasons. They have shown sparks this spring, and McGrath was their best player on Sunday as they confirmed their return to Division IA. He was vibrant throughout, bamboozling Limerick with his sharp running and movement and showing deadly accuracy in front of goal with a haul of 0-5 from play.
Players of the Week are decided based on votes cast by followers of @officialgaa on Twitter, on the Official GAA Facebook Page and on the Official GAA Instagram page
