Clare’s Shane O’Donnell and Galway’s Paul Conroy have been crowned the Hurler and Footballer of the Year for 2024. 

The highest individual awards in Gaelic Games were voted on by their peers and were  announced as part of the PwC All-Stars banquet at Dublin’s RDS.

The 2024 Players of the Year recognise two of the iconic servants of their generation.  

From Éire Óg in Ennis, Shane O’Donnell made a sensational start to his career when he was  famously sprung as a last-minute starter in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay to score three goals  in that win over Cork. Some 11 years later, O’Donnell’s explosive presence in attack lost none of  its potency to inspire Clare to the Allianz Division 1 and Liam MacCarthy Cup crowns. 

He was the PwC Hurler of the month for April and June, showing his consistency, and scored 2- 14 in the Banner’s successful championship campaign. A high achiever off the field, the 30 year old holds a PhD in Microbiology and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Harvard University  in the US. 

Galway’s Paul Conroy is the first player from his club, St James’s, to be awarded an All-Star. He  is also one of Gaelic football’s longest serving outfield players having started his career with the  Tribesmen in 2008, scoring six points on his league debut against Roscommon. 

A 35-year-old schoolteacher of Gaeilge and Business, Conroy has a talismanic presence in the  Galway team, anchoring their midfield but with the ability to power forward for important scores  as evidenced by his personal 2024 tally of 2-16 in the Championship, including 0-3 in the final.  He was the PwC Footballer of the Month for July.

The PwC GAA GPA Young Players of the Year were also announced. Clare defender and All-Star  corner back Adam Hogan was the hurling recipient in a memorable year for the man marking  Feakle defender, who also won a Fitzgibbon Cup with Mary Immaculate College this year, and  last week the Clare SHC.  

Armagh forward and All-Star Oisín Conaty is the football winner. The powerful 21-year-old forward from Tír na nÓg scored 0-13 in Armagh’s run to Sam, including scoring 0-3 from play and  being awarded Man of the Match in the All-Ireland final victory over Galway. 

PwC GAA GPA Hurler of the Year – Shane O’Donnell (Clare) 

PwC GAA GPA Young Hurler of the Year – Adam Hogan (Clare) 

PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year – Paul Conroy (Galway) 

PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year – Oisín Conaty (Armagh) 

Tweet

Most Read Stories