11 All-Star nominations for Armagh, Galway duo on Player of the Year shortlist

Armagh's Oisín Conaty, Galway's Johnny McGrath and Donegal's Ciaran Moore are in the running for Young Footballer of the Year. 

28 July 2024; Paul Conroy of Galway during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Armagh and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Armagh’s Barry McCambridge is joined by Galway’s Paul Conroy and John Maher in the shortlist for PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year as the All-Ireland champions lead the PwC All-Stars nominations with 11.

In total, 10 counties are represented in the 45. All-Ireland runners-up Galway have received eight nominations including Maher and Conroy. Liam Silke, Cillian McDaid and Shane Walsh are all in the running for a second All-Star. It would be a debut win for Dylan McHugh, Johnny McGrath and Robert Finnerty.

For the three goalkeepers, Tyrone’s Niall Morgan is in the running for a second award after picking up the accolade in 2021. Joining him on the shortlist is Blaine Hughes of Armagh and Shaun Patton of Donegal.

In defence, Armagh have four representatives, as do Ulster champions Donegal. Aaron McKay, captain Aidan Forker and Paddy Burns join McCambridge. Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan, Ryan McHugh and Brendan McCole make up the Donegal cohort while there are also nods to Michael Langan in midfield and Oisín Gallen in attack.

Louth have not won an All-Star since Paddy Keenan’s award in 2010 and have just two in their history but after a season that saw them reach a Leinster final and All-Ireland quarter-final, four players make up the shortlist. Defenders Craig Lennon and Donal McKenny as well as midfielder Tommy Durnin and Sam Mulroy pick up due nominations.

Munster champions Kerry also have four in Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tom O’Sullivan, Paudie Clifford and David Clifford. Clifford is aiming for a sixth All-Star in seven seasons.

Young Footballer of the Year nominee Oisín Conaty of Armagh is tackled by Céin D'arcy of Galway. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Seán Bugler, Brian Fenton, championship top scorer from play Con O’Callaghan and Cormac Costello of 2023 champions Dublin are shortlisted while Cork have one in defender Daniel O’Mahony.

Armagh duo Niall Grimley and Ben Crealey will contend with Conroy, Langan, Fenton and Durnin for the two midfield spots.

After a campaign that saw them lose out in the Connacht decider and a preliminary quarter-final, championship top scorer Ryan O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea are Mayo’s two nominees. Clare, Westmeath, Cavan and Meath all finished bottom of their group and are absent from the list. There is no player from league champions Derry or Monaghan either.

With an opportunity to become the 17th father and son pairing to win an All-Star, Tyrone’s Darragh Canavan is looking to follow in the footsteps of his father Peter, a six-time winner.

Oisín Conaty is nominated in the forwards and is in the running for PwC Young Footballer of the Year alongside Galway’s McGrath and Ciaran Moore of Donegal. Rian O’Neill, Rory Grugan and Conor Turbitt round out Armagh’s contingent.

Of the 2023 All-Stars team, just four are shortlisted again, the two Cliffords, O’Sullivan and Fenton.

The All-Star football team will be revealed live on TV on Friday, November 1.

Goalkeepers: Blaine Hughes (Armagh); Shaun Patton (Donegal); Niall Morgan (Tyrone).

Defenders: Aaron McKay, Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker, Paddy Burns (all Armagh); Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan, Ryan McHugh, Brendan McCole (all Donegal); Johnny McGrath, Liam Silke, Dylan McHugh (all Galway); Craig Lennon, Donal McKenny (both Louth); Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tom O’Sullivan (both Kerry); Seán Bugler (Dublin); Brian Stack (Roscommon); Daniel O’Mahony (Cork).

Midfielders: Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley (both Armagh); Michael Langan (Donegal), Brian Fenton (Dublin), Tommy Durnin (Louth), Paul Conroy (Galway).

Forwards: Oisín Conaty, Rian O’Neill, Rory Grugan, Conor Turbitt (all Armagh); Shane Walsh, Robert Finnerty, John Maher, Cillian McDaid (Galway); David Clifford, Paudie Clifford (both Kerry); Con O’Callaghan, Cormac Costello (both Dublin); Ryan O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Shea (both Mayo); Oisín Gallen (Donegal), Darragh Canavan (Tyrone), Sam Mulroy (Louth), Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon).

Footballer of the Year Nominees: Barry McCambridge (Armagh), Paul Conroy, John Maher (both Galway) 

Young Footballer of the Year Nominees: Oisín Conaty (Armagh), Johnny McGrath (Galway), Ciaran Moore (Donegal).

County breakdown: Armagh 11, Galway 8, Donegal 7, Kerry 4, Louth 4, Dublin 4, Mayo 2, Tyrone 2, Roscommon 2, Cork 1.