All-Star Footballers of the Year – The Cream of the Crop

Niall Gartland takes a look at the most recent recipients of the Footballer of the Year award

2025: David Clifford (Kerry)

A NO-BRAINER. There wasn’t any doubt about who was going to win this one, particularly after a sublime (even by his standards) display in the All-Ireland final, scoring nine points against Donegal. Clifford was the man as Kerry surged to their 39th All-Ireland title and subsequently made history as the first player ever to win the Footballer of the Year award on three separate occasions. He’s in the running for a fourth Footballer of the Year award in this year’s All-Stars, though Mayo’s Ryan O’Donoghue has emerged as favourite on the back of his all-action displays for his county in recent months.

2024: Paul Conroy (Galway)

A RARE enough instance of a player from outside the All-Ireland SFC-winning team landing the big individual prize. The experienced midfielder had a brilliant 2024 season and he was duly named Footballer of the Year even though Galway failed to fire on All-Ireland final day against Armagh. His fielding and score-taking caught the eye throughout Galway’s campaign and he also stood up on the big days.

2023: David Clifford (Kerry)

THERE was a wee bit of debate about this one. Some expected a Dublin representative to win the big award – Brian Fenton lorded the skies as they landed the All-Ireland – but it was David Clifford who was named on All-Stars night. He didn’t have his best day at the office in Kerry’s All-Ireland defeat to Dublin, hitting a number of bad wides, but he still had an incredible season. He is a mere mortal and he still had a decent game in the final aside from a few wayward efforts.

2022 David Clifford (Kerry)

CLIFFORD was named Footballer of the Year for the first time as Kerry deservedly won the 2022 All-Ireland title. He saved his best for last, producing a stunning performance on All-Ireland final day against Galway. Shane Walsh shot the lights out down the other end, scoring nine points for Galway. Clifford wasn’t far behind, contributing eight points as the Kingdom won Sam for the first time in eight years (a drought as far as they’re concerned).

2021 Kieran McGeary (Tyrone)

MCGEARY was a force of nature as Tyrone won their fourth ever All-Ireland. From early in the campaign, it was evident he meant business and he kicked three points from play in an Ulster SFC semi-final win over Donegal. He was imperious in their famous All-Ireland semi-final win over Kerry, and he was also excellent against Mayo in the final. It was a close shout betweem himself and Conor Meyler, but McGeary ultimately got the nod.

2020 Brian Fenton (Dublin)

2020 WAS a strange year in many respects, but on the footballing front it was a familiar story as far as honours were concerned. Dublin won their sixth All-Ireland final on the trot and midfield supremo Brian Fenon was named Footballer of the Year for a second time. He remains one of only three players to have won the award more than once.

2019 Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)

IT was perhaps fitting that Stephen Cluxton won the individual award in Dublin’s five-in-a-row year. It wasn’t sentiment though – Cluxton had an absolutely outstanding season, and it wasn’t just his pinpoint restarts. He saved a penalty in their drawn encounter against Kerry in the All-Ireland final, and there was plenty more where that came from. He also won his sixth All-Star and added a seventh in 2023.

2018 Brian Fenton (Dublin)

YOU could nearly take your pick of Dublin players in this era. Brian Fenton was especially influential though, and won Footballer of the Year as Dublin won their latest All-Ireland title. He had it all. Fielding, passing, movement, scoring, vision…the perfect midfielder really. He also delivered on the biggest days and was excellent as Dublin downed Tyrone in that year’s All-Ireland final.