The first of 2 midfielders to make the 15 for 15, as voted by our judging panel, is Kilkenny's Derek Lyng.
There's a quote which says: "The harder you work, the luckier you get."
And if there is one player who would fit that message over the last 15 years, it's Derek Lyng.
The Emeralds clubman from Urlingford didn't make the Kilkenny minor panel. He sat on the bench of the St Kieran's College senior team.
But by 2009, Lyng had won 6 All Ireland senior hurling medals.
He was 24 years in 2002, his first full year with Brian Cody's team.
In September of that year, he would help his team win the All Ireland title and finish with an All Star, one of two such awards he would receive.
As the engine of the Cats, Derek Lyng seemed to cover every blade of grass at Croke Park, but he was also not afraid to score points.
While other Kilkenny players would dominate the headlines, Derek Lyng's work rate and consistency was just as important as the black and amber dominated the sport.
Congratulations to Conor Ryan who picked Derek and who has won the county jersey of his choice.
Tomorrow we will reveal the second midfielder on the 15 for 15.
