Rule change means Mayo stalwarts O'Connor and Coen among those to receive All-Ireland medals

Mayo's Cillian O'Connor lifts the Sam Maguire Cup. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

A new rule change means the likes of Cillian O’Connor and Stephen Coen will receive All-Ireland winning medals despite not being part of Mayo’s final match-day panel.

Up to 2023, only 26 nine-carat Celtic Cross gold medals with the GAA’s logo were issued to each of the All-Ireland-winning squads. 

The county board could request to purchase five replicas for additional panel members. However, they were not identical, costing approximately €50 compared to the genuine medal, which was priced at roughly €250.

The 2024 All-Ireland SFC winners Armagh successfully sought a derogation of rule as they wanted all 42 members of their extended panel to receive the same reward for their victory over Galway. 

That year’s hurling winners Clare had the same-sized group.

Last January, following Tipperary’s senior hurling success in 2025, Central Council voted in Nenagh Éire Óg’s proposal that as many as 35 medals be awarded to the winners of the senior inter-county competitions. 

Additional identical medals could be sanctioned by Central Council.

Nenagh is the home club of chairman Jimmy Minogue and in their victorious season Liam Cahill had 40 in his entire squad. Players such as Seánie Kenneally and Gearóid O’Connor received medals at the presentation the previous month having missed out on the 26.

Like Armagh, Mayo this year had 42 in their extended panel including the likes of Coen, who was ruled out of the final with injury, O’Connor, Fergal Boland, James Carr, Michael Plunkett, Seamus Howard and Darren McHale.

All-Ireland senior hurling champions Limerick will be requesting an additional two as they have 37. Eddie Stokes, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh and Paddy O’Donovan were among the additional 12.

Since 2024, a holiday grant of €150,000 has been allocated by the GAA to each of the four senior finalists. 

The provincial councils of the counties also contribute to the fund. As they have done previously, Munster GAA will provide €20,000 to their representatives in the senior ladies football and camogie finals, Kerry and Cork.

Two years ago, Armagh and Clare lobbied the GAA for a larger holiday fund based on the short two-week turnaround to fundraise between their respective semi-finals and finals. 

The figure jumped from €80,000, an increase of 88%.

Since last year, those monies are contingent on media engagement, although neither hurling finalist Galway or Limerick conducted All-Ireland semi-final press conferences.

Lower-tier finalists in both senior inter-county grades also receive holiday grants. Up to 2024, the last two in the Tailteann and Joe McDonagh Cup each received €60,000.

Between all of their male All-Ireland finalists including Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary, Munster GAA distributed €140,000 in grants. 

The total including provincial final grants was €220,000.