All-Ireland champions Mayo scoop six All-Stars as 11 players win first award

ALL-STARS: Mayo players Ryan O'Donoghue, Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne celebrate. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.

Mayo have been recognised with six PwC football All-Stars. The All-Ireland champions lead the way in a 15 that features representatives from eight different counties.

It is the first time since 2010 that as many as eight counties have been recognised. There is a history-making recipient in Mayo’s Kobe McDonald, who becomes the youngest ever winner of an All-Star.

The 18-year-old Crossmolina star breaks the record held by Derry 1984 All-Star Dermot McNicholl.

It is Mayo’s largest haul in nine years. Runners-up and Munster champions Kerry have three players in the 15. After their remarkable Leinster triumph, Westmeath have their first gong since Gary Connaughton and John Keane were recognised in 2008.

Kerry made their own bit of history in back-to-back All-Star goalkeepers with two different players. A superb season ensured Shane Murphy saw off competition from Rory Beggan and Jack Livingstone for the number one spot. It will cap a terrific week for the Dr Crokes man who won a Kerry SFC championship last Sunday.

Murphy took over from the injured Shane Ryan in 2026. After a disappointing league final, he excelled with both kickouts and shot-stopping. He conceded just five championship goals and denied Kobe McDonald, Ross McGarry, Oisin Conaty, Oisin O’Neill and Ronan Cassidy with one-on-one saves.

Andy Moran’s outfit have two representatives in the back six. Sam Callinan and Enda Hession got the nod while Footballer of the Year nominee Jack Carney is named in midfield.

Their immense attack meant Footballer of the Year nominee Ryan O’Donoghue and Young Footballer of the Year nominees Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne were all included in the 15.

The likes of Livingstone, David McBrien and Jordan Flynn can all consider themselves unlucky to miss out.

Jason Foley is one of two players to win a successive award after his stellar performances at full-back. David Clifford, who is in the running for a fourth Footballer of the Year award, is their only other inclusion. It is the lowest return for an All-Ireland finalist since Mayo received three in 2021.

Paudie Clifford was a strong contender after some superb showings in Croke Park.

Five months after he captained his side to the Delaney Cup in Croke Park, Multyfarnham man Ronan Wallace has won his club’s first-ever All-Star. The same can be said for Silverbridge’s Jarly Óg Burns. The Armagh man was awesome on the way to the county’s long-awaited Ulster triumph.

Young Footballer of the Year nominee Dara McDonnell is deservedly included at six. The 20-year-old was Man of the Match against Monaghan as 14-man Louth reached their first All-Ireland semi-final since 1957.

It will be a busy week for Tyrone man Conn Kilpatrick. The midfielder won his club’s first-ever Tyrone SFC title last Friday in dramatic circumstances, winning the final two-point free that Niall Morgan converted.

He will be recognised at the All-Stars event on Friday before they play against Clonduff on Saturday night in the Ulster club championship quarter-final at Pairc Esler, Newry.

Niall Scully’s creative brilliance all year sees him line out at 10. He is Dublin’s only award winner. Monaghan have their 15th gong with the inclusion of Stephen O’Hanlon.

The dynamic flyer was terrific throughout the championship. He man-marked All-Star nominees Darragh Heneghan, Sam McCartan and Craig Lennon, keeping them to 0-1 each.

As well as that, O’Hanlon was a constant threat going forward with his remarkable pace. He scored a goal in their quarter-final against Louth despite tagging Lennon and scored three points against Westmeath with his left, right and fist.

In the Ulster final, he scored six points from play, including one two-pointer.

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 inter-county panels. This year’s banquet will take place in the RDS on Friday, live on RTÉ One from 7.30pm.

2026 PwC Football All-Stars

1. Shane Murphy (Kerry) 1st award.

2. Sam Callinan (Mayo) 1st award.

3. Jason Foley (Kerry) 3rd award (previously 2025).

4. Enda Hession (Mayo) 1st award.

5. Ronan Wallace (Westmeath) 1st award.

6. Dara McDonnell (Louth) 1st award.

7. Jarly Óg Burns (Armagh) 1st award.

8. Conn Kilpatrick (Tyrone) 1st award.

9. Jack Carney (Mayo) 1st award.

10. Niall Scully (Dublin) 2nd award (previously 2020).

11. Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo) 2nd award (previously 2021).

12. Stephen O’Hanlon (Monaghan) 1st award.

13. Darragh Beirne (Mayo) 1st award.

14. David Clifford (Kerry) 7th award (previously 2025).

15. Kobe McDonald (Mayo) 1st award.

County breakdown: Mayo 6; Kerry 3; Westmeath, Armagh, Tyrone, Louth, Dublin, Monaghan 1.