Champions Wicklow earn six spots on Tailteann Cup team of the year

Five counties in total are represented in the 15.

Wicklow captain Dean Healy with his daughter Fia after the Tailteann Cup final. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026 - 07:00

Maurice Brosnan

Tailteann Cup champions Wicklow led the way with six representatives in the Team of the Year, with five counties in total represented in the 15.

Oisín McConville’s side secured a first-ever Tailteann Cup title after stunning Down with a dramatic second-half comeback in Croke Park. The beaten finalists have names included in the side.

Key defenders Malachy Stone and Eoin Murtagh are named in defence, with their superb captain Dean Healy named in midfield. Pádraig O’Toole, Oisín McGraynor and Kevin Quinn are all listed in the forwards.

Down’s Ronan Burns got the nod in goals with Pierce Laverty and Shane Annett named in their defence. Odhran Murdock and Eamon Brown complete the inclusions from Conor Laverty’s outfit.

Offaly defeated Down and Clare on their way to a semi-final. Forwards Dylan Hyland and Jack McEvoy are recognised for their efforts. Wexford’s Eoin Porter and Fermanagh’s Ronan McCaffrey complete the team.

“A competition now firmly fixed in our calendar, this Tailteann Cup Team of the Year is equally well-established and recognises those players who went above and beyond to leave a lasting impression on the season,” said Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns.

“It was an unforgettable year for Wicklow, winning a final that will go down as one of the very best ever witnessed at Croke Park. The increase in games makes the job of naming an overall team much more difficult and I congratulate all of those chosen and thank them for all they have done to make this competition a success.”

The Tailteann Cup Team of the Year was chosen by a panel of Gaelic games correspondents, with nominations supplied by GPA player representatives from the competing counties. The team will be honoured tonight at Croke Park along with the Joe McDonagh and Champion 15 teams of the year announced earlier this week. The black-tie celebration will also reveal the overall Players of the Year in the Tailteann Cup and McDonagh, Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cups. The awards can be watched live on the GAA’s Youtube channel from 7pm.

Tailteann Cup 2026 Team of the Year

1. Ronan Burns Down

2. Malachy Stone Wicklow

3. Pierce Laverty Down

4. Eoin Porter Wexford

5. Ronan McCaffrey Fermanagh

6. Eoin Murtagh Wicklow

7. Shane Annett Down

8. Dean Healy Wicklow

9. Odhran Murdock Down

10. Dylan Hyland Offaly

11. Padraig O'Toole Wicklow