Hurling

2026 Champion 15 Hurling Team of the Year

13 October 2026 - 11:44AM

Derry players Shea Cassidy, right, and Cormac O'Doherty celebrate after their side's victory in the Christy Ring Cup final match between Kerry and Derry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile.

An eight-county spread represents the cream of the crop that make up the 2026 Champion 15 hurling team of the year.

The star-studded selection acknowledges the standout performers across the Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup competitions. The players will be honoured at a special awards ceremony at Croke Park this Friday night.

Christy Ring Cup champions Derry are represented by goalkeeper Seán Kelly, defenders Patrick Turner and Conor Coyle, midfield engine Cormac O’Doherty and forwards Deaglán Foley and Shea Cassidy.

New York’s second straight piece of silverware after adding the Nickey Rackard to the Meagher Cup won in 2025 is recognised with spots for the rampaging forward AJ Wills and defender and former Tipp footballer Bill Maher.

Meanwhile 2026 Lory Meagher Cup winning captain Reuben Murray represents Longford alongside full-back colleague Seán Lancaster.

Prolific Kerry forward Padraig O’Boyle is full-forward, while Sligo’s Andrew Kilcullen and Mayo’s Cormac Phillips are other forwards who have had their lasting impact reflected on the team.

Joe Murray’s defiance in defence for Leitrim earns him a place in the full-back line and Tyrone’s stylish Fionn Devlin completes the half-back line.

Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns, said: “I want to congratulate the players se-lected on this year’s Champion 15. To be recognised as a leading light from across three championships is a serious achievement and reflective of the lasting impression made by your endeavours. I know this recognition will be well received by your families and clubs and am delighted that this night in our calendar allows us to pay tribute to these stars.”

GPA CEO Tom Parsons, added: "The Champion 15 Team of the Year brings together the best individual players across the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups. It's been a memorable season at this level, with Derry, New York and Longford all lifting silverware, and it's no surprise to see so many of their players, along with the other finalists, well repre-sented on the team. Mayo's Cormac Phillips and Sligo's Andrew Kilcullen deserve special mention for making the cut from outside of those sides.

Congratulations to all 15 players. Standing out across the three different tiers is no easy task, and being selected is a real reflection of your perfor-mances this year. Awards like this show the quality of hurling across all levels of the game, and you've each played a big part in that."

The Champion 15 team was selected by an independent panel of Gaelic games correspondents with nominations submitted by GPA player repre-sentatives. An overall hurler of the year award for the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cup competitions will be presented this Friday night at Croke Park, where the Joe McDonagh and Tailteann Cup teams of the year will also be honoured.

Champion 15 Team of the Year 2026