Oops, the All Stars’ selectors have a history of coming out of selection processes with egg if not omelet on their faces.
And they appear to have done it again by giving beaten All-Ireland finalists Donegal the lion’s share of nominations ahead of champions Kerry - something that is sure to irk followers in the deep south who ended up one behind on nine players being named in the nominations list just released.
It will be interesting to see if the selectors, made up mainly of journalists and GAA officials, can redress the balance by award night where anything less than Kerry annexing the greatest number of places is sure to set off a winter-long argument.
In all there is a 12-county spread of nominations this year for the list of 45 names.
The battle for the overall award of PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year is a non-event although two others are chosen to contest it alongside the shoe-in winner, Kerry star forward, David Clifford. His teammate Joe O’Connor and Donegal ageless talisman Michael Murphy are the others named to keep very few guessing up to the announcement.
There should be a better fight for the Young Footballer of the Year award, which is for players 22 and under, with my choice Armagh’s Oisín Conaty in contention alongside Donegal’s Finnbarr Roarty and Galway’s Matthew Thompson.
In terms of the awards, it is heartening to see new Leinster champions Louth gain three nominations while rejuvenated Meath, who reached the All Ireland semi-final after losing to their neighbors in the Leinster campaign, have five nominations.
Disappointing Connacht champions Galway have only three players included while Armagh, who won Sam Maguire in ‘24, have five.
Across the counties, the breakdown is as follows: Donegal 10, Kerry nine, Armagh and Meath five, Monaghan, Louth and Galway three each, Dublin and Tyrone two, and one each for Mayo, Down and Derry.
PwC All-Stars Football Nominations 2025
Goalkeepers Shane Ryan (Kerry), Rory Beggan (Monaghan), Ethan Rafferty (Armagh)
Defenders Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, Jason Foley, Gavin White, Michael Breen (all Kerry); Brendan McCole, Finnbarr Roarty, Peadar Mogan, Ciarán Moore, Ryan McHugh (all Donegal); Ciarán Caulfield, Seán Rafferty (both Meath); Craig Lennon (Louth); Jarly Óg Burns, Ross McQuillan (both Armagh); Niall Devlin, Kieran McGeary (both Tyrone); Dessie Ward (Monaghan); Jack Coyne (Mayo)
Midfielders Michael Langan (Donegal); Joe O’Connor (Kerry); Odhran Murdock (Down); Conor Glass (Derry); John Maher (Galway); Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Dublin)
Forwards Michael Murphy, Conor O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Thompson (all Donegal); David Clifford, Paudie Clifford, Seán O’Shea (all Kerry); Matthew Costello, Jordan Morris, Ruairí Kinsella (all Meath); Rob Finnerty, Matthew Thompson (both Galway); Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns (both Louth); Oisín Conaty, Rory Grugan (both Armagh); Michael Bannigan (Monaghan); Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin)
Footballer of the Year Nominees
David Clifford (Kerry), Joe O’Connor (Kerry), Michael Murphy (Donegal)
Young Footballer of the Year Nominees
Oisín Conaty (Armagh), Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal), Matthew Thompson (Galway).
