As invariably happens (with the very rare exception) this year’s All-Ireland SFC champions lead the way on the PwC All-Stars team.
But it’s not quite a landslide either as Armagh’s six of the best narrowly eclipse the five claimed by runners-up Galway. Donegal land two – that’s two more than fellow beaten semi-finalists Kerry – while the team is completed by a player apiece from Tyrone and Louth.
In a repeat of last year, five counties are represented on the best 15 as decided by a panel of GAA journalists.
But in other respects this is a very different line-up, reflecting this year’s transformed competitive landscape in the race for Sam. For example . . .
What’s seldom is wonderful for Armagh, who enjoyed a golden period in the late ’90s and noughties but haven’t won an award since Ronan Clarke in 2008. Eight of Kieran McGeeney’s surprise champions made the Sunday Game team of the year on the night of the All-Ireland; but here there is no place for goalkeeper Blaine Hughes or Aaron McKay, the man who burst forward from defence to fist that priceless final goal against Galway.
The 2024 football All-Star team
The six Armagh winners are Clann Éireann duo Barry McCambridge and Conor Turbitt, named at full-back and top of the left respectively; skipper Aidan Forker at centre-back and his fellow Maghery clubman Ben Crealey at midfield; and then, in either wing-forward position, their Crossmaglen talisman Rian O’Neill and All-Ireland man of the match Oisín Conaty from Tír na nÓg. Hughes loses out in goals to Morgan, whose stellar individual form is rewarded even though Tyrone crashed out at the last-12 stage.
Galway’s haul of five matches their All-Star return in 2022 when that side also finished runners-up. All five, though, are first-time winners.
Paul Conroy (St James’) and Johnny Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra) were shoo-ins given that both are nominated for Footballer of the Year – alongside Armagh’s McCambridge, with the winner as voted by their playing peers to be announced at tomorrow night’s RDS banquet.
The 35-year-old Conroy is named at midfield, over 16 years after making his senior championship baptism, with Maher at centre-forward. They are joined on the team by Caherlistrane’s corner-back dynamo Johnny McGrath, Corofin’s Dylan McHugh at wing-back; and Rob Finnerty at corner-forward.
The latter makes it a double for Salthill-Knocknacarra, whose previous All-Star link was relatively tenuous as former players Liam Sammon and Michael Donnellan won their awards while lining out with other clubs.
Louth’s trailblazing advance to the quarter-finals is rewarded with a deserved gong for Lennon. Another jet-heeled defender who scored heavily from deep, Donegal’s Peadar Mogan of the Naomh Náille club, was a virtual cert in some position – the selectors opted for corner-back.
His county colleague, Oisín Gallen from Mac Cumhaills in Ballybofey, is flanked by Finnerty and Turbitt in the full-forward line.
As ever, some omissions will infuriate more than others. Dubs will wonder how Con O’Callaghan didn’t make the cut despite his league heroics (including a unique hat-trick against Kerry) and the fact he finished as leading championship scorer from play with 4-11.
Mayo fans will argue the case for overall top SFC scorer Ryan O’Donoghue, just as Louth die-hards will lament the absence of Sam Mulroy (who finished second in the SFC scoring charts). But even in a non-vintage year for forwards, all three miss out.
