O'Donoghue and Carney up against Clifford for POTY award

It's a Mayo versus Kerry battle once more as David Clifford is up against Ryan O'Donoghue and Jack Carney for the PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year award.

The green and red also lead the way with 11 nominations for the All-Star team of the year award following their historic season, which saw them end a 75-year wait to land the Sam Maguire.

The westerns defeated the Kingdom by three points at Croke Park in July sparking wild scenes of celebration which have continued for much of the time since.

Kerry are next on the list of nominations with seven, while semi-finalists Dublin have five. Westmeath, who landed a first Leinster title in 22 years, are next with four, while Monaghan, Ulster champions Armagh and the other All-Ireland semi-finalists Louth have three each.

Cork, Galway, Tyrone and Connacht kings Roscommon have two each with Donegal completing the list with one, meaning 12 counties have received nominations.

In the Young Footballer of the Year category, Mayo have two players in the running once more, with Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald set to go up against Louth's Dara McDonnell.

"Congratulations to the players who have been chosen on this prestigious list of 45 nominations in the PwC Football all-stars," said Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns.

"The breadth of representation says much about the level of competition that lit up our season, and in turn, made selecting the best performers such a challenge.

"This is an honour I know the players, their families and their clubs value, and I am especially delighted for Ryan, David and Jack on being shortlisted for the Footballer of the Year award – likewise for Darragh, Kobe and Dara on their nominations for the Young Player of the Year award."

Tom Parsons, CEO of the Gaelic Players’ Association, added: "In a special year for football, and in particular my own county Mayo, I want to congratulate each of the 45 players on their nomination. To be recognised among the outstanding footballers of the season is a fantastic achievement and a real reflection of the commitment, talent and sacrifice of each player."

The All-Stars began in 1971 with RTÉ set to show the award ceremony once more, which is set to take place at the RDS on 30 October.

Full PwC All-Stars Football Nominations 2026

Goalkeepers

Rory Beggan (Monaghan)
Jack Livingstone (Mayo)
Shane Murphy (Kerry)

Defenders

Sam Callinan (Mayo)
Jack Coyne (Mayo)
Enda Hession (Mayo)
David McBrien (Mayo)
Donnacha McHugh (Mayo)
Jason Foley (Kerry)
Michael Breen (Kerry)
Jarlath Óg Burns (Armagh)
Tiernan Kelly (Armagh)
Dara McDonnell (Louth)
Craig Lennon (Louth)
Ronan Wallace (Westmeath)
Matthew Whittaker (Westmeath)
David Byrne (Dublin)
Charlie McMorrow (Dublin)
Tommy Walsh (Cork)
Niall Devlin (Tyrone)
Dylan Byrne (Monaghan)

Midfielders

Jack Carney (Mayo)
Mark O’Shea (Kerry)
Conn Kilpatrick (Tyrone)
John Maher (Galway)
Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin)
Michael Langan (Donegal)

Forwards

Darragh Beirne (Mayo)
Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo)
Kobe McDonald (Mayo)
Jordan Flynn (Mayo)
David Clifford (Kerry)
Paudie Clifford (Kerry)
Dylan Geaney (Kerry)
Niall Scully (Dublin)
Con O’Callaghan (Dublin)
Darragh Heneghan (Roscommon)
Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon)
Sam McCartan (Westmeath)
Brandon Kelly (Westmeath)
Steven Sherlock (Cork)
Stephen O’Hanlon (Monaghan)
Ciarán Downey (Louth)
Oisín Conaty (Armagh)
Robert Finnerty (Galway)