Two Mayo players earn PwC All-Star football nominations
The list of nominations in the PwC Football All-Stars for 2024, announced today, features two Mayo players – forwards Ryan O'Donoghue and Aidan O'Shea.
There are 11 counties represented in total on the list of 45 players, with All-Ireland champions Armagh having their Sam Maguire success reflected with 11. In addition, star defender Barry McCambridge has been nominated for PwC GAA/GPA Footballer ofthe Year, where he is joined on the shortlist by Galway duo Paul Conroy and John Maher.
Armagh are also represented in the hunt for PwC GAA/GPA Young Player of the Year, where Oisín Conaty is joinedby Galway’s Johnny McGrath and Donegal’s Ciarán Moore.
Goalkeeper is an all-Ulster affair, where Niall Morgan (Tyrone), Shaun Patton (Donegal) and Blaine Hughes (Armagh) are nominated. Armagh lead the way in defence, midfield and attack, with Connacht champions and beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway claiming eight spots, and Ulster champions and Allianz League Division 2 champions Donegal well represented with seven places. Last year’s champions Dublin have four nominees, with Kerry brothers David and Paudie Clifford again shortlisted for All-Star glory and joined by Brian Ó Beaglaioch and Tom O’Sullivan. Elsewhere it is a landmark year for Louth, who have one of their best ever representations. Craig Lennon and Donal McKenny are nominated in defence, Tommy Durnin is shortlisted in midfield, and Sam Mulroy is included in attack.
Mayo, as mentioned, are represented by forwards Aidan O’Shea and Ryan O’Donoghue, Diarmuid Murtagh and Brian Stack are Roscommon’s representatives, Cork have defender Daniel O’Mahony flying their flag, while Darragh Canavan maintains his family's proud All-Star links.
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “To be nominated for a PwC All-Star is a significant honour and a magnificent achievement. After the enthralling football season that we savoured, to be deemed to have been an essential part of that and to be one of the key players who made it so spectacular is something special. I congratulate all 45 players who are announced today, and I know it will be relished by their families and clubs.
“I particularly want to acknowledge the contribution of the players shortlisted for the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, and salute them on this additional honour. Our thanks to PwC and the GPA for their continuing support of this iconic awards scheme.”
GPA CEO Tom Parsons added: “Our games focus first and foremost on the team element and that’s how it should be. However, every team is only as good as the sum of its parts, and that is why it is so important to recognise individual brilliance.
“The 45 players shortlisted have stood out amongst their peers as being the stand-out performers in 2024, and for that I salute them all. From personal experience I know that it does give a player a sense of pride to become a PwC All-Star nominee, so to our first-time nominees, I want to say congratulations.
“To Barry, Paul and John, congratulations on being selected as the nominees for the PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year, and to Oisín, Johnny and Ciarán on being shortlisted for the PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year. In a year of outstanding individual performances, yours were consistently brilliant.”
Enda McDonagh, managing partner, PwC, stated: “On behalf of everyone at PwC, I extend sincere congratulations to the 45 footballers nominated for a PwC All-Star. Special congratulations to Barry, Paul and John, shortlisted for the PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year, and to Oisín, Johnny and Ciarán for their nominations for PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year.
“Your outstanding contributions to your teams' performances during the exciting championship have rightfully earned you this recognition. Your commitment, excellence and dedication reflect the values we honour and celebrate at PwC.”
The nominations were chosen by a panel of Gaelic games journalists from across print, radio, TV and digital media. The All-Stars scheme stretches back to 1971, and the PwC All-Stars will be shown live on RTÉ at a special banquet in the RDS on Friday, November 1 – the 140th anniversary of the formation of the GAA.
The full list of nominations is as follows: goalkeepers - Blaine Hughes (Armagh), Shaun Patton (Donegal), Niall Morgan (Tyrone); defenders - Aaron McKay (Armagh), Barry McCambridge (Armagh), Aidan Forker (Armagh), Paddy Burns (Armagh), Peadar Mogan (Donegal), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Caolan McGonigle (Donegal), Brendan McCole (Donegal), Johnny McGrath (Galway), Dylan McHugh (Galway), Liam Silke (Galway), Craig Lennon (Louth), Donal McKenny (Louth), Brian Ó Beaglaioch (Kerry), Tom O’Sullivan (Kerry), Seán Bugler (Dublin), Brian Stack (Roscommon), Daniel O’Mahony (Cork); midfielders - Niall Grimley (Armagh), Ben Crealey (Armagh), Michael Langan (Donegal), Brian Fenton (Dublin), Tommy Durnin (Louth), Paul Conroy (Galway); forwards - Rian O’Neill (Armagh), Conor Turbitt (Armagh), Oisín Conaty (Armagh), Rory Grugan (Armagh), Cillian McDaid (Galway), John Maher (Galway), Rob Finnerty (Galway), Shane Walsh (Galway), David Clifford (Kerry), Paudie Clifford (Kerry), Con O’Callaghan (Dublin), Cormac Costello (Dublin), Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Oisín Gallen (Donegal), Darragh Canavan (Tyrone), Sam Mulroy (Louth), Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon).
PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year nominees: Barry McCambridge (Armagh), Paul Conroy (Galway), John Maher (Galway). PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year nominees: Oisín Conaty (Armagh), Johnny McGrath (Galway), Ciarán Moore (Donegal).