Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald have both won All-Stars. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

All-Ireland football champions Mayo win six All-Stars while Kerry receive three

There’s a record 11 first-time All-Stars on the 2026 Gaelic football selection.

2026 Gaelic football All-Star Team

(Previous winning years in brackets)

Goalkeeper

  • 1. Shane Murphy (Kerry – Dr Crokes) – 1st award.

Defenders

  • 2. Sam Callinan (Mayo – Ballina Stephenites) – 1st award.
  • 3. Jason Foley (Kerry - Ballydonoghue) – 3rd award (2022, 2025).
  • 4. Enda Hession (Mayo – Garrymore) – 1st award.
  • 5. Ronan Wallace (Westmeath – Multyfarnham) – 1st award.
  • 6. Dara McDonnell (Louth – Naomh Máirtín) – 1st award.
  • 7. Jarly Óg Burns (Armagh – Silverbridge Harps) – 1st award.

Midfielders

  • 8. Conn Kilpatrick (Tyrone – Edendork St Malachy’s) – 1st award.
  • 9. Jack Carney (Mayo – Kilmeena) – 1st award.

Forwards

  • 10. Niall Scully (Dublin – Templeogue Synge Street) – 2nd award (2020).
  • 11. Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo – Belmullet) – 2nd award (2021).
  • 12. Stephen O’Hanlon (Monaghan – Carrickmacross Emmets) – 1st award.
  • 13. Darragh Beirne (Mayo – Claremorris) – 1st award.
  • 14. David Clifford (Kerry – Fossa) – 7th award (2018, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025).
  • 15. Kobe McDonald (Mayo – Crossmolina Deel Rovers) – 1st award.

 

***

ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS Mayo lead the way with six All-Stars represented on the 2026 PwC GAA-GPA Gaelic football team.

The side they beat in the final, Kerry, have three players named, while there is a single player each from Westmeath, Louth, Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin and Monaghan.

Mayo have Sam Callinan and Enda Hession named in the corner-back positions, with Jack Carney taking his place in midfield. Their prolific attack makes up half of that section, with Ryan O’Donoghue named at centre-forward, with Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald at corner-forwards.

Kerry have goalkeeper Shane Murphy, with Jason Foley named at full-back. David Clifford picks up his seventh All-Star at full-forward.

Elsewhere, there is a spread of players that reflects a truly competitive and exciting championship. The entire half-back line is made up of first-time All-Stars: Ronan Wallace of Westmeath, Dara McDonald of Louth and Armagh’s Jarly Óg Burns.

Conn Kilpatrick tops off a sensational week after playing a leading role in Edendork’s first-ever Tyrone championship last Friday night by landing an All-Star in midfield.

Niall Scully is recognised for his huge input into a great personal season, the Dublin player winning his second All-Star to go with the one in 2020 at wing-forward. On the other wing is another first timer in Monaghan’s Stephen O’Hanlon.

All in, there are eight counties represented. This is the record for Gaelic football All-Star teams, and equals the teams of 1971, 1972, 1992 and 1998.

There are also 11 first-time All-Stars, a bracingly fresh number.

A bit of history is made in that the three nominees for the Young Footballer of the Year have all been selected for an All-Star, while Kobe McDonald becomes the youngest-ever All-Star at just 18. He is one month younger than the previous winner, Derry’s Dermot McNicholl, who won his All-Star in 1984.

*** 

Check out the latest episode of The 42′s GAA Weekly podcast here

View 11 comments
Comments Summary
AI-GENERATED
Fans debate notable omissions and deserving inclusions on the All-Star team
Where they land
Praise for a wide county spread clashes with anger over snubs
What they think
Richard Murphy welcomes the healthy county spread on the team
Several fans argue Jack Livingstone and others were unfairly overlooked
Close
11 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel