Hurling

BGE U21: Team of the year announced

05 October 2016 - 8:50PM

Waterford star Austin Gleeson has been named at centre back.

All-Ireland champions Waterford provide eight players on the 2016 Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year. The team, which was revealed on Newstalk’s Off the Ball over the last two nights, will be presented with their awards at a special ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House on Saturday night. Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran or Stephen Bennett will also pick up the Player of the Year accolade.

The eight Waterford representatives are joined on the team by two players each from Dublin and Galway while there is one player each from Tipperary, Limerick and Westmeath. Indeed, Westmeath’s Niall Mitchell is the first player from the county to pick up an award since the scheme came into being in 2013.

All seven defensive positions including the goalkeeping berth go to Waterford and Dublin. From midfield up five counties are represented, including three more Waterford men.

Galway’s Brian Molloy is the sole survivor from the 2015 edition of the team. Last year he was named at corner forward, but this year he switches out to centre forward.

The team was picked by Bord Gáis Energy Sports Ambassador Ger Cunningham, TG4’s Michéal Ó Domhnaill, Waterford great Ken McGrath and Galway sharpshooter Joe Canning.

The Player of the Year award, which recognises the overall stand-out player of the 2016 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U21 All-Ireland Championship, will be revealed on Saturday night at the Mansion House.

The ‘B’ championship Player of the Year and the Bord Gáis Energy Off the Ball Score of the Year will also be announced. Voting for the Score of the Year is still open at http://www.newstalk.com/BGE. Choose your favourite and be in with a chance to win a brilliant hotel getaway for two.

**2016 Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year **