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Ryan, Beirne, O’Mahony and Carty nominated for Irish Players’ Player of the Year

The-Irish
Four of Ireland’s stars from the 2019 Guinness Six Nations have been nominated for the Players’ Player of the Year Award.

Four of Ireland’s stars from the 2019 Guinness Six Nations have been nominated for the Players’ Player of the Year Award.

The four nominees are locks James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne, back-row forward Peter O’Mahony and fly-half Jack Carty who are all looking to succeed 2018 winner Keith Earls.

All four stood out in this year’s Championship where Ireland ended up third with three wins from their five games.

Munster flanker O’Mahony was the man of the match for Ireland against both Scotland and Italy and enjoyed a stunning Championship.

No one won more lineout ball or made more breakdown steals from any team in the Guinness Six Nations this year and he also led Munster to the Guinness PRO14 play-offs and a European Champions Cup semi-final.

Meanwhile, lock Ryan remains a standout in the second row for both Leinster and Ireland.

The 22-year-old was man of the match in his team’s win over France in Round Four and has also led his province back to the Champions Cup final and potential back to back European crowns.

Alongside him in the second row is Beirne, who returned to Ireland this season after a breakout spell with the Scarlets in Wales.

And the Munster man has brought his best form back to the Emerald Isle, making his Ireland debut in November and also overcoming injury to appear in the 2019 Championship.

The fourth nominee is Connacht fly-half Carty who has led his province back into the Guinness PRO14 play-offs for the first time in three years.

The 26-year-old also broke into the international arena this year, coming off the bench on three occasions in the 2019 Championship for Ireland.

With Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne starting the season as the main back-ups to Jonathan Sexton, Carty’s form has forced him to the front of the queue for fly-half minutes in Irish green.

The Young Player of the Year nominees have also been unveiled with Ryan potentially in line for a double win, up against Jordan Larmour and Jacob Stockdale.