Feature: Like father, like son

The 10 father-son combinations who have won All-Star awards in Gaelic Football.

Bernard Brogan Snr and Alan Brogan and Bernard Brogan Jnr

BERNARD Brogan Snr won three All-Ireland titles with Dublin and picked up an All-Star award in 1979. His sons Alan and Bernard won even more than their famous father during an unbelievable spell of success for Dublin in the last ten years. Alan actually won two of his three All-Stars during the noughties, while he was crowned Footballer of the Year in their breakthrough season of 2011. Bernard Brogan Jnr won four All-Stars and won the Footballer of the Year award in 2010, which was some achievement given Dublin didn’t even reach the final that year.

Martin McHugh and Mark McHugh and Ryan McHugh

MARTIN McHugh was one of the best footballers in Ulster in the eighties and early nineties, winning two All-Stars. His sons have been widely recognised as well, with Mark playing a key role as sweeper on the Donegal team which bridged a gap of 20 years when winning their second ever All-Ireland title in 2012. Ryan McHugh has been a brilliant footballer down the years as well, equalling his father with two All-Stars to his name.

Frank McGuigan and Brian McGuigan

ONE of the most famous footballing families in the country is the McGuigans from Ardboe. Frank McGuigan is one of the most legendary forwards ever produced in the Red Hand County and he won an All-Star on the back of a historic performance in the 1984 Ulster final, scoring 11 points from play. His son Brian was an extraordinary playmark and won his only All-Star award in 2003, though there was some controversy when he missed out on an award in 2005 after giving one of the all-time great All-Ireland final performances against Kerry in the final.

Dermot Earley Snr and Dermot Earley Jnr

DERMOT Early Snr enjoyed a lengthy career with Roscommon, making his debut as a 17 year old and winning two All-Stars and one national league title. A high ranking military officer, he raised his family in Kildare, and his son Dermot Earley Jnr was an excellent midfielder for the Lilywhites. A player who never gave anything less than 100 percent, he won All-Star awards 11 years apart, in 1998 and 2009.

Tim Kennelly and Tadhg Kennelly

TADHG Kennelly returned home from a hugely successful career in AFL to play his part in Kerry’s All-Ireland win in 2009, before heading back to Australia. Unfortunately, his short stint back in Kerry is remembered for his reckless challenge on Nicholas Murphy in the All-Ireland final, which he later said was premeditated, but he still had a fine campaign and won an All-Star. His father Tim won a bagful during the Kerry ‘Golden Years’, including nine Munster titles, five All-Irelands, three National Leagues and two All-Stars.

Denis ‘Ogie’ Moran and David Moran

‘OGIE’ Moran is one of the most celebrated Gaelic Footballers of all-time. He was the only member of the Kerry team of the seventies and eighties that played every minute of their eight All-Ireland successes during that period. His son David has been an exceptional midfielder for Kerry for more than a decade and won his third All-Ireland medal back in July. The 6’3” midfielder has also won three All-Star awards.

Noel McCaffrey and Jack McCaffrey

THE news that Jack McCaffrey is returning to the Dublin football team has come as a considerable surprise to almost everyone, but it’s exciting news given he’s arguably one of the greatest players of all time – and he’s still in his twenties. The lightning fast wing-back has won four All-Star awards and was named Footballer of the year in 2015. His father Noel, meanwhile, was also an excellent player, if not quite as celebrated as his legendary son, and won an All-Star in 1988.

Barney Rock and Dean Rock

DEAN Rock played an absolutely pivotal role in Dublin’s six in-a-row run between 2015 and 2020. A reliable free-taker, yes, but he scores plenty from play and was full value for his three All-Star awards. His dad Barney also won three All-Stars (in consecutive years between 1984 and 1986), although he ‘only’ managed to pocketed one Celtic Cross in his career.

Pat Reynolds and Paddy Reynolds

FORMER Meath football Pat Reynolds had an excellent career for the Royals, and he was picked for the left-half back position on the first ever All-Star team in 1971 (and as such he’s Meath’s first ever All-Star). Like his father, Paddy Reynolds was a teak-tough half-back who pocketed an All-Star award during a fine career in the nineties.

Liam O’Neill and Kevin O’Neill

FORMER Galway footballer Liam O’Neill never won an All-Ireland (indeed, he lost three All-Ireland finals in four years) but he still had a stellar career and won an All-Star to boot. His son Kevin represented Mayo, and it was a fairly similar story in All-Ireland finals, but he was an excellent forward who did produce the goods on the big day.