Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearoid Hegarty from Limerick are set to compete for the Hurler of the Year title against Cork forward Brian Hayes.

The pair will be among the contenders when the GAA announces its All-Star awards on 30 October in Dublin.

Byrnes previously claimed the individual prize in 2022, while Hegarty took the honour in 2020 following their respective victories at the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

The nominations reflect a strong field with eight counties represented across the list.

Tipperary leads the pack with thirteen names having been put forward by selectors.

Tipp's squad includes players who have secured both the Munster and National League titles in 2026, alongside their Liam MacCarthy Cup triumph.

Galway follows closely with eleven nominations, including former finalists Jason Rabbitte and Cillian Travers.

Cork has seven representatives on the list, featuring Brian Hayes among them.

Semi-finalists Clare are represented by three players, while Dublin and Offaly have three and two nominees respectively after reaching the quarter-finals.

Waterford contributes two names to the field, with Kilkenny adding one final representative.

Goalkeepers Billy Nolan from Waterford, Nickie Quaid from Limerick, and Eibhear Quilligan from Clare are also included in the shortlist.

Defenders such as Sean Finn, William O'Donoghue, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Darren Morrissey, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Cillian Trayers, Ronan Glennon and Sean O'Donoghue have been nominated.

Young Hurler of the Year candidates include Galway's Jason Rabbitte and Cillian Travers, along with Cork's William Buckley.

The selection process involves selectors identifying players who have demonstrated exceptional skill over the past twelve months.

No official decision has yet been made regarding the final winners of the award.

The ceremony will take place at the GAA All-Star awards event scheduled for late October.

Fans across Ireland are expected to follow the proceedings closely given the high quality of competition.

Limerick's recent success in winning the All-Ireland title provides significant context for their nominees' inclusion.

Brian Hayes remains a key figure for Cork as they continue their campaign under current management.

The breadth of representation highlights the competitive nature of hurling at both county and inter-county levels.

Selectors from various counties have worked to identify the most deserving players for this prestigious honour.

The list serves as a precursor to the formal voting process that will determine the ultimate recipient.

All-Star awards remain one of the most anticipated events in the Gaelic games calendar annually.