All-Ireland U21 hurling champions Clare have, unsurprisingly, received the most nominations for this year's Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year Awards. In total eleven players from the Banner county are in the running to be named in the final fifteen which will be named in advance of the live show, which will be broadcast live from Croke Park on Saturday, October 11th at 8.30pm on TG4.

Two players from the victorious Clare team are also nominated for the Player of the Year Award. Colm Galvin has been nominated for the award for the second successive year while he is joined by his fellow county man Aaron Cunningham and Wexford star Conor McDonald on the three man list. A Player of the Year from the 'B' championship will also be announced as part of the live broadcast.

Five players who were named on the inaugural Team of the Year in 2013 are again in line to be honoured. Clare trio Seadhna Morey, Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly are looking to add this honour to the All-Ireland medals they won following their win against Wexford in the final. Tipperary's Jason Forde and Antrim's Ciaran Clarke are also looking to retain their places in the championship's best fifteen.

U21 hurling supporters are once again being given their chance to vote for the Score of the Year Award which will be aired live at the award ceremony. In total twelve scores from this season's championship are in the running.  All of these great scores are available to view on our dedicated championship website bgeU21.ie. U-21 fans can vote for their favourite now via Facebook, Twitter or Instragram. Voting will close at midnight Friday, October 10th.

Speaking at the announcement of the shortlist, Ger Cunningham, sports ambassador at Bord Gáis Energy said, "Last season's U-21 Team of the Year ceremony was a resounding success and proved to be extremely popular among the players. It's a great way to bring the season at this level to a close and a chance to celebrate the great scores and great players who lit up the summer with their superb skill and tremendous ability.

"To say it was a difficult task to pick just thirty-one players for this shortlist of nominees would be an understatement. Finalising the fifteen winners will prove to be even more difficult.

"It will no doubt be a wonderful night for all involved and Bord Gáis Energy is delighted to be involved in recognising the best U-21 hurlers in 2014."

While All-Ireland champions Clare have eleven representatives on the list of nominees, runner-up Wexford are not too far behind with eight players shortlisted. Four Galway men are included following their narrow semi-final defeat to Wexford. Cork and Tipperary both have two nominations while Kilkenny, Limerick, Dublin and Antrim get one nomination each.

The full judging panel for the awards include Bord Gáis Energy sports ambassador Ger Cunningham, TG4's Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, Galway star Joe Canning and Waterford great Ken McGrath.

Shortlist Announced for Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year

Goalkeepers: Patrick Collins (Cork), Keith Hogan (Clare), Oliver O'Leary (Wexford)

Full Backs: Tom Aylward (Kilkenny), Cathal Barrett (Tipperary), Jack Browne (Clare), Jack Hanrahan (Galway), Seadhna Morey (Clare), Liam Ryan (Wexford)

Half Backs: Conor Cleary (Clare), Andrew Kenny (Wexford), Dan Morrissey (Limerick), Gearoid O'Connell (Clare), Shane O'Gorman (Wexford), Jamie Shanahan (Clare)

Midfield: Conor Devitt (Wexford), Eoin Enright (Clare), Colm Galvin (Clare), Aidan Nolan (Wexford)

Half Forwards: Padraig Brehony (Galway), Colm Cronin (Dublin), Bobby Duggan (Clare), Johnny Glynn (Galway), Jack Guiney (Wexford), Tony Kelly (Clare)

Full Forwards: Alan Cadogan (Cork), Ciaran Clarke (Antrim), Aaron Cunningham (Clare), Jason Forde (Tipperary), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Conor McDonald (Wexford) 

Breakdown on Counties Nominated: Clare (11), Wexford (8), Galway (4), Cork (2), Tipperary (2), Antrim (1), Dublin (1).

Nominations for Player of the Year: Aaron Cunningham (Clare), Colm Galvin (Clare), Conor McDonald (Wexford)

Nominations for Bord Gáis Energy Score of the Year Award
Aaron Cunningham, Munster Quarter-Final, Clare v Limerick
Rhys Clare, Leinster Semi-Final, Wexford v Offaly
Conor McDonald, Leinster Final, Wexford v Dublin
The Clare Team, Munster Semi-Final, Clare v Tipperary
Shane O'Donnell, Munster Final, Clare v Cork
Conor McDonald, All-Ireland Semi-Final, Wexford v Galway
Aaron Cunningham, All-Ireland Semi-Final, Clare v Antrim
Ryan Casey, 'B' Championship Final, Kildare v Roscommon
Aaron Cunningham, All-Ireland Final, Clare v Wexford
Tadgh Gallagher, Munster Semi-Final, Tipperary v Clare
Padraig Brehony, All-Ireland Semi-Final, Galway v Wexford
Robbie Kelly, 'B' Championship Final, Roscommon v Kildare

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