Lynch in driving seat for Hurler of the Year, insists nominee Mannion

HURLER of the Year nominee Pádraic Mannion believes Cian Lynch is most likely to win the gong at a ceremony in Dublin’s Convention Centre later tonight on the basis of his All-Ireland final win.

Mannion and Galway team-mate Joe Canning along with Treaty star Lynch are up for the Player of the Year award in hurling, which is voted for by members of the playing body. And the Ahascragh Fohenagh club man reckons that Lynch is in pole position after his Limerick team toppled Galway in the decider back in August.

“Look it, it is down to the players, whomever they feel is worthy of it,” Mannion said. “Cian Lynch having won All-Ireland final, he is probably (favourite), more often than not, it goes to the player that wins the All-Ireland final. I am not going to worry too much about it.”

Only once in the last ten years – when Austin Gleeson won in 2016 – has the award gone to a player not from the All-Ireland-winning team.

“I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s not something I put much thought into. It’s other people’s opinion, and if more Galway people were voting there would be a bias, and Limerick would be biased also. It’s something you’d be very proud of looking back, when you’re finished hurling, but we’ll see what happens.”

Mannion revealed that he expects the Galway panel to return en masse for the 2019 season, including veteran goalkeeper Colm Callanan who endured an injury-hit campaign this year.

“He is staying there. I haven’t heard anything otherwise,” he said.