All-Ireland champs Mayo top PwC football All-Star nominations

All-Ireland champions Mayo have been rewarded with 11 precious slots in the PwC Football All-Star nominations for 2026, announced today.

After winning their first All-Ireland in 75 years, Mayo headline a list that is yet again reflective of the new, ultra-competitive football landscape where 12 counties in all have representatives after another memorable season.

As well as having All-Star contenders on every line of the field, Mayo will also be represented by forward star Ryan O’Donoghue and midfield anchor Jack Carney in the battle to be crowned PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year. Also in the running is Kerry talisman David Clifford, who won a third Footballer of the Year award last season.

The nominations for PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year will see Louth’s rampaging centre-back Dara McDonnell go up against Mayo scoring starlets Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald, with McDonald hoping to emulate the All-Star won by his father Ciaran in 2004. These overall awards will be voted on by the players themselves.

The 12-county breakdown is Mayo 11, Kerry seven, Dublin five, Westmeath four, Monaghan, Armagh and Louth three each, Roscommon, Cork, Galway and Tyrone two each, and one from Donegal.

Mayo's 11 nominees are: Jack Livingstone, Sam Callinan, Jack Coyne, Enda Hession, David McBrien, Donnacha McHugh, Jack Carney, Darragh Beirne, Ryan O'Donoghue, Kobe McDonald and Jordan Flynn.

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “Congratulations to the players who have been chosen on this prestigious list of 45 nominations in the PwC Football all-stars. 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.

“It’s also a special day for the families, team-mates and clubs of the players, who all contribute to their individual success. I want to pay special tribute to Ryan, David and Jack, who have been nominated for the PwC Footballer of the Year, and Darragh, Kobe and Dara, who have been nominated for the PwC Young Footballer of the Year.”

Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner, PwC Ireland, commented: “The announcement of the 2026 PwC All-Stars Football nominations marks the beginning of one of the most anticipated celebrations in the GAA calendar. These nominations recognise players who have performed at the highest level, inspired their counties and communities, and demonstrated extraordinary commitment throughout the season.

“PwC is proud to continue supporting this awards programme that celebrates excellence, leadership and the values that make Gaelic games so special. We congratulate all nominees on this fantastic achievement and look forward to marking their achievements at the PwC All-Stars in October.”

The All-Star nominations were chosen by a group of Gaelic games correspondents from across print, radio, TV and digital media, and was chaired by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns. This will be the 55th year of the awards, stretching back to 1971. The PwC All-Stars will be presented at a gala black-tie event at Dublin’s RDS on Friday, October 30, which will be shown live on RTÉ.

The PwC All-Stars football nominations 2026 are: 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).

The PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year nominees are David Clifford (Fossa, Kerry), Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet, Mayo) and Jack Carney (Kilmeena, Mayo). The PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year nominees are Darragh Beirne (Claremorris, Mayo), Kobe McDonald (Crossmolina Deel Rovers, Mayo) and Dara McDonnell (Naomh Máirtín, Louth).