Gaelic Football All-Star nominations revealed with one surprise omission

Ryan Price

The PwC Footballer of the Year award will go to Galway or Armagh for the first time in over two decades.

The PwC GAA-GPA Footballer of the Year award nominations have been announced, with 11 counties represented among the 45 nominees.

All-Ireland champions Armagh have raked in 11 All-Star nominations, while All-Ireland finalists Galway nabbed eight spots and Ulster champions Donegal boast a haul of seven.

Clann Éireann’s Barry McCambridge is nominated for the PwC GAA-GPA Footballer of the Year award and is up against the Galway duo of Paul Conroy and John Maher for the honour.

McCambridge did not feature in the Ulster final but emerged as a key figure in the All-Ireland series, earning the Man of the Match award in the quarter-final win over Roscommon and slapping home a crucial goal late on in the semi-final victory over Kerry.

Many neutrals will hope to see Conroy receive the award. The 35-year-old is still chasing his first All-Star and scored 2-16 from play across the course of the championship.

John West Féile 2023 Ambassador Paul Conroy of Galway at Croke Park today Tuesday. John West, sponsors of the GAA’s under-15 annual Féile Peile na nÓg (football) and Féile na nGael (camogie and hurling) announced details of its innovative nutrition programme for young athletes. The company also revealed the extension of its Féile sponsorship until 2025 and a partnership with SuperValu to promote John West Féile in stores across the country. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The player of the year nomination caps a tremendous year for the 25-year-old Maher, who was not even in the squad for the county’s run to the 2022 All-Ireland final.

The nominations were chosen by a committee of GAA journalists, meaning the stand out trio are almost certain to land All Star awards.

Galway’s flying wing back Dylan McHugh – the frontrunner for Footballer of the Year going into the All-Ireland final – is a surprise omission from the list.

Stephen O’Brien of Kerry in action against Dylan McHugh of Galway during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

McHugh’s evolution in recent years has been admired by many, and some feel a nomination alone would have been a great commendation for all of his hard work and determination.

When it comes to Young Footballer of the Year, All-Ireland final man of the match Oisín Conaty is shortlisted alongside Galway’s man-marking corner-back Johnny McGrath and Donegal defender Ciarán Moore.

Last year’s finalists Dublin and Kerry have four All-Star nominations apiece, as do this year’s quarter-finalists Louth.

Mayo and Roscommon have two nominations apiece, with Aidan O’Shea and Ryan O’Donoghue selected for Kevin McStay’s side, while Brian Stack and Diarmuid Murtagh are nominated for the Rossies.

For Cork Daniel O’Mahony is the sole nominee, while Darragh Canavan and Niall Morgan are in the running for Tyrone.