There are five counties represented and 14 first-time winners on a PwC Football All-Stars 2024 team dominated by All-Ireland champions Armagh and runners-up Galway.
The Orchard county lead the way with six players (of 11 nominees), including Footballer of the Year nominee Barry McCambridge, while runners-up Galway have five (of eight), including their FOTY nominees Paul Conroy and John Maher. All three are first-time All-Stars.
Ulster champions Donegal have two representatives while there is one each for Tyrone and Louth, for whom Craig Lennon claims a first award since 2010. The Red Hands’ Morgan is the only member of the XV to have previously been selected.
Three clubs have supplied two players each: Clann Éireann and Maghery Seán MacDiarmada of Armagh, and Galway’s Salthill-Knocknacarra.
It is the first time since 2003 that neither Dublin nor Kerry have an All-Star representative. The Dubs had four nominees after they were dethroned by Galway in the quarter-finals and the Kingdom three, following their extra-time loss to Armagh in the semis.
Armagh secured one more award than 2023 champions Dublin did last year though goalkeeper Blaine Hughes and defender Aaron McKay might feel unlucky to have missed out.
The All-Stars ceremony will take place on Friday at the RDS in Dublin, where the Footballer of the Year and Hurler of the Year/hurling team will be named live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
2024 Gaelic Football All-Stars
Goalkeeper
Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
The 2021 All-Ireland winner beat out competition from Armagh’s Hughes and Donegal’s Shaun Patton to claim his second award, despite his county exiting at the preliminary quarter-final stage. The Edendork St Malachy’s keeper scored eight championship points, including one from play, as he continued to epitomise the sweeper-keeper role, which is set to evolve again under Gaelic football’s proposed new rules.
Full-back line
Johnny McGrath (Galway)
The 23-year-old Caherlistrane corner-back is also up for Young Footballer of the Year (along with Armagh’s OisÃn Conaty and Donegal’s Ciaran Moore) after a season in which he emerged as one of the game’s foremost man-markers, restricting the impact of the likes of Cormac Costello, Ryan O’Donoghue and Shane McGuigan, and keeping Armagh’s Conor Turbitt scoreless in what was his first All-Ireland SFC final appearance.
Barry McCambridge (Armagh)
The Clann Éireann defender is named at full-back – despite scoring 2-05 for the champions from the corner, including a crucial goal against Kerry – after holding both David Clifford and Shane Walsh to a point from play each. Started on the bench throughout the the Ulster SFC before becoming a starter at the business end of the championship. The 25-year-old was The Sunday Game panel’s Footballer of the Year and could add the All-Star FOTY gong to that tomorrow.
Peadar Mogan (Donegal)
The Naomh Naille Mountcharles man won the player of the month awards for both May and June after starring in Donegal’s march to the All-Ireland semi-finals. The lightning quick defender scored 0-13 from play in nine games, racking up 0-05 and taking the man of the match award in the quarter-final win over Louth as Donegal reached the semi-finals in Jim McGuinness’ first season back as manager.
Half-back line
Dylan McHugh (Galway)
The final didn’t go to plan but the Corofin captain – who led his club to retaining the county title last weekend – was just the width of a post away from forcing extra-time. Showed consistent creativity and running from wing-back, scoring points in five games, including two in the semi-final win over Donegal when he was man of the match.
Aidan Forker (Armagh)
The first Armagh captain to lift Sam Maguire since Kieran McGeeney. Kept Damien Comer scoreless in the final and got forward to score a point. The inspirational Maghery 32-year-old managed eight scores over the campaign, including two in the semi-final triumph over Kerry.
Craig Lennon (Louth)
The St Mochta’s man was one of four nominees from the Louth side that again reached the Leinster decider and becomes just the second-ever All-Star from the Wee County, after Paddy Keenan in 2010. The converted forward scored 4-10 in seven games and was man of the match in the preliminary quarter-final victory over Cork, which secured Louth’s first ever All-Ireland quarter-final appearance (their eight Leinster crowns having come in the pre-last-eight days).
Midfield
Paul Conroy (Galway)
The 6’3″ midfielder turned 35 in May but was arguably Galway’s best player in the final, scoring three long-range points in what was his second loss in the decider. The St James’ man finished the championship with 2-16 to his name from 29 shots, and is expected to back for a 17th inter-county season next year. The only surprise is that it took him this long to win an All-Star and he could give McCambridge a run for his money for the big prize.
Ben Crealey (Armagh)
The 6’5 former rally driver from Maghery was excellent in the air and at winning possession over the course of the season. Scored two points in the first half of the final and won a crucial late turnover on Cillian McDaid when Galway were looking for a leveller. The 26-year-old also bagged a brace in the Ulster final and scored against Derry and the Tribesmen in the group stages.
Half-forward line
Rian O’Neill (Armagh)
The 25-year-old Crossmaglen Rangers playmaker didn’t hit top form in every game but when he did, Armagh won. Bagged 1-14 (1-12 from play) in the championship, including one in the final. The best season of a career disrupted by injury since his debut seven years ago.
Johnny Maher (Galway)
Scored a point in five matches, including in his first All-Ireland final, but it was the Salthill-Knocknacarra man’s work around the middle that stood out. Helped to limit Brian Fenton’s influence in the quarter-final and the 25-year-old is now a nailed-on starter having only made his Galway debut last season. Nominated for Footballer of the Year alongside team-mate Conroy and McCambridge.
OisÃn Conaty ( Armagh)
The 20-year-old former Northern Ireland U19 international was Armagh’s top-scorer in the final, kicking three excellent points from play to earn the man of the match award. He racked up 0-13 over the summer and the marking job he did on Ryan McHugh in the Ulster final typified his defensive diligence. From the TÃr na nÓg club, Armagh will be hoping he’s around for years and years to come. Young Footballer of the Year likely between him and McGrath.
Full-forward line
Rob Finnerty (Galway)
Salthill-Knocknacarra’s second representative on the team scored one free in the final before it sadly ended for him after just 10 minutes due to a knee injury. Shane Walsh then had to take all of the frees but missed three so Finnerty might have proved the difference. Scored 1-33 overall and was particularly effective against Donegal in the semi-final.
OisÃn Gallen ( Donegal)
The Seán Mac Cumhaills forward was one of the championship’s top scorers with 2-33 (1-18f). Scored six points in the Ulster final before the penalty-shootout victory over Armagh, four of which came from play. ‘Farrah’ excelled this year, having managed to stay injury free for a second successive season after thinking he might have to stop playing in 2022.
Conor Turbitt (Armagh)
Had a final to forget, including missing a close-range free, and was taken off after 46 minutes but ‘Turbo’ was sensational otherwise throughout the year, scoring 3-22 (3-12 from play). The Clann Éireann man bagged four points in the Ulster final and five in the semis.
Watch the PwC All Star Awards on Friday from 7.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player