All stars 2026

[From the Bunker]

Pointless debate on POTY. ROD will win it.
These individual accolades in a team game are always subjective.
David Clifford is probably the best Forward Gaelic Football will ever see. And amazingly for a Kerry man has only two AI medals. I wouldn't bet against him adding more in the next couple of years. But it's not a given.

[ONeill]

The judges are similar to us though. Surely as respected journalists (and celebs) they pick the best footballer?

[Armagh18]

On current form, if your club had one spot left on the team at No.15, and you'd to pick between Ryan and David...who you picking?

In Omagh, O'Donoghue scored 0-2 from play and didn't really pose a threat. In fact McCurry did more in 10 mins.

If you're judging player of the year off that metric no one but Clifford would ever win it until he retires!

[seafoid]

The 2 Cliffords didn't have the same impact.

There was me thinking David scored 1-06.

They were always behind
."

Examiner
"As soon as the medical team dropped off the call Andy set off his stall. We were going after Kerry. No holding back. No backward step. No deviation from our principles.
If anything we were going to ramp up.that stuff even more.."

Kerry couldn't deal with the intensity.

[square_ball]

The 2 Cliffords didn't have the same impact.

There was me thinking David scored 1-06.

They were always behind
."

Kerry couldn't deal with the intensity.

On your first point, Kerry were 8 up at one stage and on your 2nd point, Sean O'Shea had a chance to level it and bring it to extra time. Mayo were deserving winners but let's not make out like Kerry weren't there or thereabouts in the match ffs.

[imtommygunn]

I think the most they were up was seven but at the end when Mayo hit the bar Kerry really could have got something from that game whether it be the draw or the win. They wouldn't have deserved it but they were in that game until the fisted point. I think like most I feared they could have lost it with a few minutes to go. When you have those two Cliffords and you're in a game with only a few scores in it you are always in it. Paudie was very good in the final too. There's very few can deal with him either when he's on his game.

[Blowitupref]

[mackers]

Paudie Clifford can not be given an All Star.  The only game he played well in (due to injury obv) was the AI Final.

[seafoid]

No Beirne

[Armagh18]

Paudie Clifford can not be given an All Star.  The only game he played well in (due to injury obv) was the AI Final.

Was he not motm in semi? Shoe in for me. 2x Cliffords and the Mayo trio nailed on with one up for debate between Scully/Kilkenny or maybe Flynn

[onefineday]

Paudie Clifford can not be given an All Star.  The only game he played well in (due to injury obv) was the AI Final.

Man of the match in the semi, decent final, but don't think he deserves an all star this year. I'm not sure how many games he played between league and championship, but no more than 7 I suspect and was below par in all but 2.

[onefineday]

Ryan best player in final and scored 1 11 in semi. Not sure what what way David is judged but Ryan O Donohoe is player of the year in any metric.

Absolutely, man of the match v Monaghan, v louth in the semi and in the final and in the last 2 games it was probably his leadership and off the ball play that impressed most, whilst also weighing in with heavy scoring and key assists. Put simply, with no Ryan O'Donoghue, mayo wouldn't have been within an asses roar of ending the famine!! Without question the most influential gaelic footballer this year.

[imtommygunn]

The goal for me was his defining moment. The run he did he really had no business doing. He decided he was going to take things on and make something happen and he did. It was actually a great lesson to anyone - if you want to make something happen you need to take responsibility and make it happen and not expect someone else to make it happen for you.

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/07/28/the-mayo-masterplan-how-andy-moran-delivered-a-tactical-blueprint-for-the-ages-in-croke-park/

One thing that was evident in this opening quarter was the contrast in the work Kerry demanded from David Clifford off the ball. The Fossa man was turned over in the third minute and he didn't make an effort to work back. This was noticeable across the day both on his turnovers and his kickout defence. He still lit up the occasion with 1-6 but while the attacking demands on him are onerous, he is excused the punishing work expected of the Mayo inside forwards.

[Blowitupref]

The 2026 All Stars nominations

Goalkeepers

Rory Beggan (Monaghan)
Jack Livingstone (Mayo)
Shane Murphy (Kerry)


Defenders

Sam Callinan (Mayo)
Jack Coyne (Mayo)
Enda Hession (Mayo)
David McBrien (Mayo)
Donnacha McHugh (Mayo)
Jason Foley (Kerry)
Michael Breen (Kerry)
Jarlath Óg Burns (Armagh)
Tiernan Kelly (Armagh)
Dara McDonnell (Louth)
Craig Lennon (Louth)
Ronan Wallace (Westmeath)
Matthew Whittaker (Westmeath)
David Byrne (Dublin)
Charlie McMorrow (Dublin)
Tommy Walsh (Cork)
Niall Devlin (Tyrone)
Dylan Byrne (Monaghan)


Midfielders

Jack Carney (Mayo)
Mark O'Shea (Kerry)
Conn Kilpatrick (Tyrone)
John Maher (Galway)
Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin)
Michael Langan (Donegal)


Forwards

Darragh Beirne (Mayo)
Ryan O'Donoghue (Mayo)
Kobe McDonald (Mayo)
Jordan Flynn (Mayo)
David Clifford (Kerry)
Paudie Clifford (Kerry)
Dylan Geaney (Kerry)
Niall Scully (Dublin)
Con O'Callaghan (Dublin)
Darragh Heneghan (Roscommon)
Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon)
Sam McCartan (Westmeath)
Brandon Kelly (Westmeath)
Steven Sherlock (Cork)
Stephen O'Hanlon (Monaghan)
Ciarán Downey (Louth)
Oisín Conaty (Armagh)
Robert Finnerty (Galway)

Footballer of the Year Nominees

David Clifford (Fossa, Kerry)
Ryan O'Donoghue (Belmullet, Mayo)
Jack Carney (Kilmeena, Mayo)

Young Footballer of the Year Nominees

Darragh Beirne (Claremorris, Mayo)
Kobe McDonald (Crossmolina Deel Rovers, Mayo)
Dara McDonnell (Naomh Máirtín, Louth)



The 12-county breakdown is

Mayo 11,
Kerry seven,
Dublin five,
Westmeath four,
Monaghan three
Armagh three
Louth three
Roscommon two
Cork two
Galway two
Tyrone two
Donegal one