Hurling Championship Team of the Championship......so far.

Taken from GAA.ie

1. Gary Maguire (Dublin)
Came under pressure for his place from Alan Nolan earlier in the season when he struggled with injuries, but the Ballyboden man has bounced back brilliantly to rediscover the form that saw him win an All Star in 2011. Produced magnificent saves from David Burke and Joe Canning in the Leinster final to move past his nearest rivals, Cork’s Anthony Nash, Waterford's Stephen O'Keeffe and Limerick’s Nickie Quaid, in the pecking order.

2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
Started the season with an uncharacteristically sub-par performance against Offaly. A subsequent ankle injury in the drawn game against Dublin forced him to miss the replay, but his late return for the epic against Tipp reminded us of his importance to the Cats. A magnificent defender, Murphy has pace, comes alive in physical battles and has the bravery needed to dominate opponents aerially.

3. Richie McCarthy (Limerick)
Arguably the best defender on show in the 2013 Championship so far. Hurls his man from the front and has been a rock at the back for Limerick. Dominated the Tipp inside forwards and then came out on top of his duel with Cork’s Séamus Harnedy. An inspirational figure, he was a deserving winner of the Opel GAA/GPA Player of the Month Award for July.

4. Michael Cahill (Tipperary)
As Tipperary’s only representative in the selection, he has battled harder than most for recognition. That he gets in ahead of Jackie Tyrrell is testament to his magnificence in a team that has struggled. Outstanding against Limerick and then against Kilkenny, Cahill is a 9/10 every time he pulls on the blue and gold jersey.

5. Brendan Bugler (Clare)
Perhaps a surprise inclusion, but Bugler sneaks in ahead of Tommy Walsh and Jamie Nagle for his greater consistency. The Whitegate clubman won an All Star in 2012 at No. 5 but has been just as important this year to a team that has gone off-Broadway in their path to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Masterful in the Munster quarter-final win over Waterford, Bugler is the complete modern wing-back.

6. Liam Rushe (Dublin)
Looks like an altar boy, but plays with the cold-blooded instincts of an assassin. His move back to No. 6 has been key to Dublin’s rehabilitation this year. Dominates games – and particularly the skies – from centre-back. If Dublin continue on their upward curve over the next few years, Rushe has the potential to go down as one of the greats.

7. Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny)
Along with Richie Hogan, Joyce has been Kilkenny’s outstanding performer. It’s hard to remember his last poor game in the tiger stripes, but his performance against Tipp, especially in the second half, will be hard to forget. Learnt his trade under Tommy Walsh, and has picked up many of the great man’s qualities. Fearless in the air.

8. Johnny McCaffrey (Dublin)
Not exactly a vintage year for midfielders, but McCaffrey has been the pick of the crop. He always steps up when asked to do the dirty work. Has shown great leadership qualities this year and has developed an eye for throwing over long-range points. Dublin’s most underrated player.

9. Darragh Fives (Waterford)
Rounded off a brilliant breakthrough campaign with a wonderful performance in the extra-time defeat to Kilkenny. Equally effective in the half-back line, Fives is one of a new breed of hurlers who can lead the Déise back to the consistency they showed in the 2000s. Has never looked out of place replacing the great Tony Browne in the Waterford side, and his ability to switch to midfield has also offset the loss of Stephen Molumphy.

10. Conal Keaney (Dublin)
Keaney gave one of the stand-out individual performances of the championship in the Leinster final win over Galway. His hunger, fearlessness and appetite for hard work epitomised Dublin’s remarkable transformation this year. He is probably two good performances away from a Hurler of the Year nomination; one great one away from the top individual accolade.

11. James Ryan (Limerick)
Sealed his place in the team with a man of the match performance, including three points from play, in the Munster final. Ryan is an old school Limerick warrior who relishes a battle. If Limerick are to go all the way, they will need Ryan to maintain his superb form at centre-forward.

12. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
When people worry about what’ll happen the Cats when Shefflin, Walsh, Tyrrell et al retire, they are doing Hogan a disservice. Has stepped up once again this year, showing brilliant leadership in attack. He’s now Kilkenny’s go-to man, a stick man supreme who scores fine points and creates more for others with his deft flicks and vision.

13. David O’Callaghan (Dublin)
Playing in a two-man inside forward line with Paul Ryan, ‘Dotsy’ has enjoyed a new lease of life in 2013. A defender’s worst nightmare, O’Callaghan is a perpetual motion forward who has run himself into the ground in each of Dublin’s games, creating space for others and finding the room to slot over several crucial scores of his own. A man reborn.

14. Declan Hannon (Limerick)
Seventeen points in two games only tells half the story of the importance of Hannon’s role in Limerick’s Munster success. Still only 20, the Adare man is a born leader and has the temperament and ability to take on responsibility way beyond his years. His haul is puffed up by frees but Hannon is equally adept from open play and will surely be giving the best full-backs in the country nightmares for years to come.

15. Paul Ryan (Dublin)
Worth his place in the team for his Leinster final tour de force alone, but Ryan’s performance levels had been building from a low base to that peak throughout the campaign. A superb free-taker, his contribution from open play has sometimes been questioned, but he has well and truly silenced the doubters in 2013. Has scored 3-16 already.