Shane Nolan named Hurling Player of the Week.
Shane Nolan has added another chapter in a storybook year so far for Kerry hurling by coming out on top with a very dominant victory in this week's GAA.ie Hurling Player of the Week vote.
The Crotta O'Neill's man inspired the Kingdom to a crucial win over Laois on Saturday that preserves their status as a Division 1B team for the 2017 season.
For his outstanding individual display in that match he was duly rewarded with an impressive 51 per cent of the votes cast on the GAA's official Twitter (@officialgaa), Facebook and Instagram pages.
That left him clear of Tipperary's John McGrath in second-place and Cork's Conor Lehane in third place.
GAA.ie HURLING PLAYER OF THE WEEK
1: Shane Nolan (Kerry) - 3447 votes (51 per cent)
2: John McGrath (Tipperary) - 1950 votes (28 per cent)
3: Conor Lehane (Cork) -1488 votes (21 per cent)
Kerry are one of the stories of the hurling year so far and their highly impressive 2-27 to 1-19 win over Laois on Saturday that secured their Division 1B status for next season was another entertaining chapter in it. It was a consumate team performance by the Kingdom, but wing-forward Shane Nolan was a Prince among men. He hit a total of 1-9, 1-3 of which was from play, and his ability to roam across the pitch and hoover up possession proved nightmarishly difficult for the Laois defence to cope with. Nolan has been one of the most talented young hurlers in the country for the past few years, and it is no surprise that he has blossomed on the bigger stage. He finished with just over half of this week's vote
In second place with 28 per cent was Tipperary's John McGrath. The Premier County might be disappointed that their League campaign has ended at the quarter-final stage after defeat to Clare in Ennis on Sunday, but one huge positive they can take from it has been the coming of age of John McGrath. The former minor star's progress was slowed last year by a chronic groin injury, but now that he is fit again he has been busy showing everyone why he is such a hot prospect. He was outstanding again on Sunday as he scored six points from play and led the Clare defence a merry dance with his intelligent movement, quick wrists, and dead-eyed finishing.
In third place with 21 per cent was Cork attacker Conor Lehane. He has been in red-hot form so far this year and he was at it again on Sunday when he masterminded Cork's 2-22 to 0-25 Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Relegation Play-off victory over Galway. The Midleton man scored six points from play and terrorised the Galway defence with his willingness to run at them at speed and then fire the ball over the bar off either side and from all sorts of angles. Now positioned at centre-forward for the Rebels, Lehane's instinctive ability to drift into pockets of space and finish clinically is a joy to watch.
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
