Ulster trio named in All-Star team

CONN Kilpatrick, Stephan O’Hanlon and Jarly Óg Burns have been named in the PwC Football All-Star team for 2026.

Champions Mayo lead the way with six players in a selection that is spread across eight different counties.

It caps of a brilliant week for Kilpatrick was part of his club Edendork’s first ever championship winning team.

Burns was part of the Armagh team who ended the county’s wait for an Ulster final.

O’Hanlon was one of the stars of that Ulster final and was a huge reason why they almost reeled the Orchard County back in.

It is the first time since 2010 that there has been such an extensive breakdown on the distinguished final 15, and there are 11 first-time winners of a precious All-Star, the biggest number of debutantes since 2022.

Another notable highlight is a seventh award for Kerry ‘s David Clifford, equalling the haul amassed by fellow Kingdom great Mikey Sheehy.

Only Colm Cooper (eight) and Pat Spillane (nine) have won more in their Kerry careers, with time still very much on the Fossa favourites side.

After a season that saw them capture the Sam Maguire for the first time in 75 years, Mayo are the clear dominant presence.

After helping Westmeath to Leinster glory, Ronan Wallace carves a special piece of history for himself as a first-time winner of a PwC Football All-Star at wing back which goes with the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year award he won in 2022.

Dara McDonnell is centre-back in recognition of his play for Louth in their high-profile season, while completing the defence is Armagh’s versatile Jarly Óg Burns who brings a first-ever All-Star back to his club, Silverbridge.

Conn Kilpatrick’s enormous contribution is acknowledged in midfield, while Niall Scully collects a second All-Star after a season that saw him so effectively pull the strings for the Dubs in their comeback to a semi-final.

The marauding Stephen O’Hanlon from Monaghan is a winner at wing forward after his impressive season as the competitive landscape in football is very evident in the deliberations around this team.

All three contenders for PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year have made the team with Dara McDonnell and Darragh Beirne featuring and AFL convert Kobe McDonald, who is not 19 until December, laying a claim to the youngest ever football All-Star winner.

David Clifford, Jack Carney and Ryan O’Donoghue are the All-Stars who are also nominated for Footballer of the Year.

“An incredible football season that was crammed full of memorable twists and turns has a legacy in this All-Star football team, one that reflects just how competitive our game is now,” commented GAA President Jarlath Burns.

“Mayo have had their season rightly rewarded, and with eight counties represented and 11 first-time winners, there will be clubs all over Ireland that wake up and share in this fantastic news and feel that they have played a part in this success. It will be an extraordinary honour and privilege to be able to present my own club’s first-ever All-Star award to Jarly Óg and Silverbridge.

“The All-Stars are the pinnacle in individual achievement, and we are enormously thankful to PwC for their continued support of this great institution in Irish sport.”

Part of the GAA landscape since 1971, the All-Stars were chosen by a panel of Gaelic Games correspondents from across print, radio, TV and digital media.

The PwC awards will be presented at a special black-tie function in Dublin’s RDS tomorrow night.  To avoid a conflict of interest, Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns did not chair the debate selecting the list of defenders.

The Footballer and Young Footballer of the Year overall awards are chosen by the players themselves. These awards, together with their hurling equivalent and the PwC Hurling All-Stars, will be announced live tomorrow.

They will be shown live on RTÉ 1 television tomorrow night from 7.30pm. A special GAA Digital red carpet preshow programme will be screened live from 6pm on the GAA’s YouTube channel.

PwC All-Stars Football 2026

1. Shane Murphy (Kerry)
2. Sam Callinan (Mayo)
3. Jason Foley (Kerry)
4. Enda Hession (Mayo)
5. Ronan Wallace (Westmeath)
6. Dara McDonnell (Louth)
7. Jarlath Óg Burns (Armagh)
8. Conn Kilpatrick (Tyrone)
9. Jack Carney (Mayo)
10. Niall Scully (Dublin)
11. Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo)
12. Stephen O’Hanlon (Monaghan)
13. Darragh Beirne (Mayo)
14. David Clifford (Kerry)
15. Kobe McDonald (Mayo)

PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year Nominees

1. David Clifford (Fossa, Kerry)
2. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet, Mayo)
3. Jack Carney (Kilmeena, Mayo)

PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year Nominees

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