David Clifford, Ryan O'Donoghue and Erin Carney Among Nominees as GAA All-Star Football Shortlists Announced
The GAA/GPA has announced the shortlists for the 2026 PwC All-Star football awards, with All-Ireland champions Mayo leading the nominations with a record 11 players recognised for their roles in ending the county's 75-year wait for Sam Maguire. Kerry's David Clifford, Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue, and Donegal's Erin Carney are among the contenders for Footballer of the Year, while the county-by-county manager guide for the 2027 season reflects a significant period of transition across the inter-county game, with three counties — Galway, Longford, and Monaghan — still seeking senior football managers.
Background
The 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was one of the most dramatic in recent memory, with Mayo ending their 75-year wait for Sam Maguire in a final that captured the imagination of the entire country. The county's victory, which came against Kerry in a pulsating final at Croke Park, was celebrated with scenes of extraordinary emotion across Connacht and among the Mayo diaspora worldwide. The All-Star nominations reflect the quality of Mayo's campaign, with 11 players recognised — a record for the county — alongside seven nominations for Kerry, who were runners-up for the second consecutive year.
The All-Star awards, which have been presented annually since 1971, are among the most prestigious individual honours in Gaelic football, and the announcement of the shortlists is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the post-championship season. The awards are decided by a panel of GAA journalists and officials, and the final selections are typically announced at a gala ceremony in October. The 2026 ceremony is scheduled for October 30 at the RDS in Dublin.
The GAA's county-by-county manager guide for the 2027 season, published by the Irish Examiner, reflects the scale of the transition underway across the inter-county game. Limerick GAA has proposed Micheál Cahill to succeed Jimmy Lee as senior football manager, with the appointment subject to ratification by the full county board in October. Three counties — Galway, Longford, and Monaghan — are still seeking senior football managers, with approximately 60 days remaining before the commencement of official collective inter-county training for the 2027 season.
Key Developments
The Footballer of the Year shortlist features three outstanding candidates. David Clifford of Kerry, who has been the dominant individual performer in Gaelic football for the past four years, is nominated despite Kerry's defeat in the All-Ireland final — a reflection of the Kerry man's extraordinary consistency and the quality of his performances throughout the championship. Ryan O'Donoghue of Mayo, who was one of the key figures in the county's All-Ireland winning campaign, is the sentimental favourite among many supporters, while Erin Carney of Donegal has been recognised for a series of outstanding performances that helped Donegal reach the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time in a decade.
Mayo's record 11 nominations span all positions, from Jack Livingstone in goal to Jordan Flynn and Ryan O'Donoghue in attack, reflecting the collective quality of a squad that finally delivered on the county's enormous potential. Kerry's seven nominations include Clifford and several of the players who have been central to the county's recent dominance, while Donegal, Dublin, and Galway have also received multiple nominations.
The GAA has also confirmed that it will meet with the AFL regarding player recruitment protocols in the coming weeks, following concerns about the number of young Irish players being recruited by Australian rules football clubs before they have had the opportunity to develop their Gaelic football careers. The issue has been a source of tension between the GAA and the AFL for several years, and the forthcoming meeting is expected to address the question of minimum age requirements and the timing of recruitment approaches.
Why It Matters
The All-Star nominations matter because they provide a formal recognition of individual excellence in a team sport, and because they reflect the broader narrative of the championship season. Mayo's record 11 nominations are a testament to the quality of the county's All-Ireland winning campaign and to the depth of talent that manager Kevin McStay has developed over the past three years. The nominations also reflect the competitive nature of the 2026 championship, with players from six different counties represented in the shortlists — a sign that the dominance of Dublin, which characterised the previous decade, has given way to a more genuinely competitive landscape.
The Footballer of the Year contest between Clifford, O'Donoghue, and Carney is one of the most genuinely open in recent years. Clifford's case rests on his sustained excellence over multiple seasons and his ability to perform at the highest level even in defeat. O'Donoghue's case is strengthened by the fact that he was a key figure in Mayo's historic All-Ireland victory. Carney's nomination reflects the growing recognition of Donegal's contribution to the championship and the quality of her individual performances throughout the season.
Local Impact
In Mayo, the All-Star nominations have been greeted with enormous pride, with the county's 11 nominees celebrated across social media and in local newspapers. The county board has confirmed that it will organise a civic reception for the All-Ireland winning squad before the end of October, and the All-Star ceremony on October 30 is expected to be attended by a large contingent of Mayo supporters. In Kerry, the seven nominations are a reminder of the county's enduring quality, and the county board has expressed confidence that the team will return to All-Ireland glory in 2027. In Donegal, Erin Carney's nomination for Footballer of the Year has been particularly celebrated, with the county's supporters hopeful that the recognition will inspire further progress in the 2027 championship.
What's Next
The 2026 PwC All-Star football awards ceremony is scheduled for October 30 at the RDS in Dublin, with the full All-Star teams and the individual award winners to be announced on the night. The GAA's meeting with the AFL on player recruitment protocols is expected to take place in October, with the outcome likely to inform any changes to the existing agreement between the two organisations. The 2027 inter-county season will begin in earnest in November, with the commencement of official collective training, and the three counties still seeking senior football managers — Galway, Longford, and Monaghan — will be under pressure to make appointments before that deadline.
