All-Star nominations for Oisin Gallen and Brendan McCole

Two Donegal men are part of this year’s PwC All-Star football nominations.

Oisin Gallen and Brendan McCole both had fine campaigns in 2023 and will no doubt be looking to continue that form next year, with Jim McGuinness taking over as Donegal senior team manager for a second spell in charge.

In all, there are 45 players nominated, with three goalkeepers, 18 defenders, six midfielders and 18 forwards across 13 counties – the largest representative breakdown since 2008.Gallen, a clubman of Sean MacCumhaill’s is listed in the forwards, with St Naul’s McCole in the defenders.

Also announced today are the contenders for PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year – an accolade voted for by the inter-county playing population. Last year’s winner, David Clifford is again shortlisted, and the Kerry star forward is joined by Dublin midfielder and a two-time Player of the Year Brian Fenton, as well as Slaughtneil dual star Brendan Rogers from Derry.

The candidates for PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year are Derry duo Ethan Doherty and Eoin McEvoy and Roscommon’s Conor Carroll – young players who caught the eye with their performances last summer.

The PwC All-Star teams will be presented with their awards at a gala black-tie event which will be staged in Dublin’s RDS and shown live on RTÉ tv on Friday, November 17. The football winners and the overall Players of the Year will be announced live on the night.

PwC Football All-Star Nominations
Goalkeepers (3): Rory Beggan (Monaghan), Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Shane Ryan (Kerry)

Defenders (18): Jason Foley (Kerry), Tadhg Morley (Kerry), Tom O’Sullivan (Kerry), Gavin White (Kerry), Michael Fitzsimons (Dublin), Lee Gannon (Dublin), Brian Howard (Dublin), Gareth McKinless (Derry), Conor McCluskey (Derry), Eoin McEvoy (Derry), Conor McCarthy (Monaghan), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan), Seán Kelly (Galway), Aidan Forker (Armagh), Brian Stack (Roscommon), Padraig Hampsey (Tyrone), Rory Maguire (Cork), Brendan McCole (Donegal)

Midfielders (6): Brian Fenton (Dublin), James McCarthy (Dublin), Conor Glass (Derry), Brendan Rogers (Derry), Diarmuid O’Connor (Kerry), Diarmuid O’Connor (Mayo)

Forwards (18): Colm Basquel (Dublin), Cormac Costello (Dublin), Paul Mannion (Dublin), Con O’Callaghan (Dublin), David Clifford (Kerry), Paudie Clifford (Kerry), Seán O’Shea (Kerry), Paul Cassidy (Derry), Shane McGuigan (Derry), Oisín Gallen (Donegal), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Enda Smith (Roscommon), Darragh Canavan (Tyrone), Rónán O’Toole (Westmeath), Andrew Murnin (Armagh), Jordan Flynn (Mayo), Ben McCormack (Kildare), Damien Comer (Galway)

PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year Nominees: David Clifford (Kerry), Brian Fenton (Dublin), Brendan Rogers (Derry)
PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year Nominees: Ethan Doherty (Derry), Eoin McEvoy (Derry), Conor Carroll (Roscommon)