All-Ireland champions Kerry scoop eight All-Star awards

After winning no All-Star in 2024, it is the Kingdom’s largest haul in 44 years.

Fri, 07 Nov, 2025 - 21:02

Maurice Brosnan

All-Ireland champions Kerry lead the way with eight PwC Football All-Stars in the team announced at the gala event in the RDS on Friday night. Runners-up and Ulster winners Donegal picked up four.

The talisman of the All-Ireland champions David Clifford was named footballer of the year for a third time.

After winning no All-Star in 2024, it is the Kingdom’s largest haul in 44 years. They received nine gongs in 1981 and seven in 1984, 2009 and 2022. Armagh, Louth and Meath all have one representative in the 15. There are seven first time winners in total.

Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan, defenders Jason Foley and Gavin White all pick up their second accolade. They are joined by first-time winners Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Joe O’Connor.

Ryan suffered an injury early in the championship and missed the Munster final but returned to become a mainstay between the posts. White adds to his Man of the Match award from the All-Ireland final, hitting three points in an all-action display.

Joe O’Connor becomes the first All-Star from Austin Stacks since Kieran Donaghy in 2014.

An 18-year gap has been ended as Meath’s Seán Rafferty took his place in the full-back line. The last Meath man to win an All-Star before him was Stephen Bray in 2007. Robbie Brennan’s outfit reached a Leinster final and an All-Ireland semi-final. Their other four nominations, Ciarán Caulfield, Matthew Costello, Jordan Morris and Ruairi Kinsella, miss out.

Paudie Clifford picks up his fourth award, adding to 2021, 2022 and 2023. There is a well-deserved honour for Seán O'Shea at centre-forward in what is also his fourth All-Star.

At 26 years of age, David Clifford collected a remarkable sixth award (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025). The Fossa star scored 11-92 as Jack O’Connor’s side clinched the National League, Munster and All-Ireland titles in 2025.

Donegal's Michael Murphy was recognised for a fourth time. The Glenswilly man is joined by three first-time winners, Brendan McCole, Finnbarr Roarty and Michael Langan.

An outstanding debut campaign sees Roarty get the nod in the back six. Tyrone’s Kieran McGeary, Donegal’s Ciaran Moore and Armagh duo Ross McQuillan and Jarly Óg Burns were among the contenders who provided stiff competition for a spot.

After winning GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year and an All-Star in 2024, Armagh’s Oisín Conaty is his county’s sole representative this season. Several forwards can consider themselves unlucky to miss out including Galway’s Robert Finnerty, Donegal’s Conor O’Donnell and Shane O’Donnell.

It is the first time since 2009 that no Connacht county is represented in the team.

Following on from Craig Lennon, who became Louth’s second ever All-Star in 2024, Sam Mulroy completes the 15. He joins Lennon and Paddy Keenan as the county’s previous winners.

The Louth captain led his side to Leinster triumph for the first time since 1957. He was sensational in the second half against Meath in the final at Croke Park and finished the championship with a personal tally of 4-37. It caps a superb season for the 27-year-old who inspired his club Naomh Máirtín to Louth SFC glory last month as they won their third ever senior championship.

The All-Star teams are selected by two panels of journalists drawn from the national media. The Player of the Year awards are voted on by their peers on intercounty panels.

2025 PwC Football All-Stars:

1. Shane Ryan (Kerry) 2nd award

2. Brendan McCole (Donegal) 1st award

3. Jason Foley (Kerry) 2nd award

4. Seán Rafferty (Meath) 1st award

5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (Kerry) 1st award

6. Gavin White (Kerry) 2nd award

7. Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal) 1st award

8. Joe O’Connor (Kerry) 1st award

9. Michael Langan (Donegal) 1st award

10. Paudie Clifford (Kerry) 4th award

11. Sean O’Shea (Kerry) 4th award