ARMAGH turned it on to win the Sam Maguire Cup – and have now turned it up to 11 in terms of PwC Football Allstar nominations.
The Orchard County understandably lead the way, followed by their final opponents Galway on eight, with Ulster champions Donegal having seven of the 45 contenders.
It’s 16 years since Armagh added to their tally of 24 Allstars, when they last won Ulster in 2008 (with Ronan Clarke earning his second), but they will significantly increase that total when the final 15 is selected next month.
Tyrone bring the tally of nominees from the northern province to 20 with two, in goalkeeper Niall Morgan (a 2021 Allstar) and forward Darragh Canavan, who was also nominated last season. Indeed all three goalkeeping nominees hail from Ulster.
Armagh are also in the running for both individual accolades: goal-scoring defender Barry McCambridge is one of three contenders for PwC Footballer of the Year, along with Galway duo Paul Conroy and John Maher, while Oisin Conaty will contest the Young Footballer award beside Donegal’s Ciaran Moore and Johnny McGrath of Galway.
There may be some surprise at what is a big day for ‘the wee county’, with four nominations for Louth – especially as that is the same number of nominees as for Munster champions Kerry and Leinster kingpins Dublin.
Three other counties make up the total of 10 receiving nominations, with two each for Connacht counties Mayo and Roscommon and one for Cork.
Armagh’s heroics in bouncing back from a second consecutive Ulster Final defeat on penalties – this time by Donegal, have been suitably rewarded with players contending in every department of the Allstars team, as is also the case for the Tir Chonaill men.
First up for Armagh is goalkeeper Blaine Hughes, who conceded just one goal in nine matches, against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, and played the final despite suffering a serious knee injury in the warm-up. Donegal’s Shaun Patton, whose penalty save won them the provincial title, completes the trio of northern netminders.
The Orchard County’s success was built on defensive solidity and they have four backs selected: McCambridge, obviously, plus captain Aidan Forker, Paddy Burns, and Aaron McKay, who scored the crucial goal in the All-Ireland Final.
Donegal also have four defenders seeking Allstars – Brendan McCole, Caolan McGonagle, two-time Allstar Ryan McHugh, and Peadar Mogan.
Both midfielders who starred in the All-Ireland series for Armagh are nominated, namely Ben Crealey and Niall Grimley, with Donegal’s Michael Langan also among the six contenders at centre-field.
It’s in attack that Armagh hold the advantage, though, with four forwards vying for Allstars, compared to just one from Donegal – Oisin Gallen. Not all Young Footballer nominees make the Allstars cut but Conaty is in there, along with his Armagh colleagues Rory Grugan, Rian O’Neill, and Conor Turbitt.
Some Armagh supporters may wonder about the absence of their super-sub, Stefan ‘Soupy’ Campbell, who superbly set up the goal against Galway, but their tally of 11 is one more nomination than Dublin received last year.
Kerry might have most cause for complaint about only getting four nominations, having reached the last four, although Division One League champions Derry miss out altogether. Dublin’s quartet includes Brian Fenton, who is aiming for a seventh Allstar at midfield.
There will only be delight from Louth, who are seeking their second ever Allstar after Paddy Keenan at midfield in 2010. They have a contender there, Tommy Durnin, who plays his club football with Inniskeen in Monaghan. Two Louth defenders, Ciaran Lennon and Donal McKenny, also make the cut, along with star forward Sam Mulroy.
2024 PwC Football Allstar nominees:
GOALKEEPERS (3):
Blaine Hughes (Armagh)
Shaun Patton (Donegal)
Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
DEFENDERS (18):
Paddy Burns, Aidan Forker, Barry McCambridge, Aaron McKay (all Armagh)
Daniel O’Mahony (Cork)
Brendan McCole, Caolan McGonagle, Ryan McHugh, Peadar Mogan (all Donegal)
Sean Bugler (Dublin)
Johnny McGrath, Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke (all Galway)
Brian O Beaglaoich, Tom O’Sullivan (both Kerry)
Craig Lennon, Donal McKenny (both Louth)
Brian Stack (Roscommon)
MIDFIELDERS (6):
Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley (both Armagh)
Michael Langan (Donegal)
Brian Fenton (Dublin)
Paul Conroy (Galway)
Tommy Durnin (Louth)
FORWARDS (18):
Oisin Conaty, Rory Grugan, Rian O’Neill, Conor Turbitt (all Armagh)
Cormac Costello, Con O’Callaghan (both Dublin)
Oisin Gallen (Donegal)
Rob Finnerty, Cillian McDaid, John Maher, Shane Walsh (all Galway)
David Clifford, Paudie Clifford (both Kerry)
Sam Mulroy (Louth)
Ryan O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Shea (both Mayo)
Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon)
Darragh Canavan (Tyrone).
Football of the Year nominees: Barry McCambridge (Armagh), Paul Conroy, John Maher (Galway)
Young Football of the Year nominees: Oisin Conaty (Armagh), Ciaran Moore (Donegal), Johnny McGrath (Galway).