Kerry’s status as the Kingdom of Gaelic football was embellished tonight as the All-Ireland, Munster and League champions dominated the PwC All-Stars with eight slots on the team for 2025.

After sweeping the boards on the field, Kerry have the lion’s share of the PwC All-Star spoils. Goalkeeper Shane Ryan was an automatic for the assured contribution he gave from shot stopping to restarts.

Brendan McCole is a first-time All-Star at corner back and writes another impressive chapter in the career of a young player who grew up initially in New York. Full back Jason Foley is Mr Dependable for Kerry and collects a second award. Completing the line is Meath’s Seán Rafferty who was a rock for the Royals in their great run to the All-Ireland semi-final and is Meath’s first All-Star since Stephen Bray in 2007.

Kerry’s tenacious wing-back Brian Ó Beaglaoich wins his first All-Star to go with the second All-Ireland medal he won this year. Beside him, the rampaging Gavin White was another automatic selection after his great season, and the line is completed by teenager Finnbarr Roarty.

Joe O’Connor was central to Kerry’s return to form and their run to the Sam Maguire and was a player of the year contender. Partnering him is Donegal dynamo Michael Langan – a midfielder who was involved in all their best work in their march to Ulster glory and the All-Ireland final.

Paudie Clifford did not play every minute of Kerry’s season, but every minute he played mattered, and his work rate and creativity are recognised here in what is his fourth award. Centre forward Seán O’Shea was another big game player for Kerry when the need was greatest and is another four timer. Armagh’s Oisín Conaty is the Orchard’s only representative but wins back-to-back All-Stars for his attacking exploits.

David Clifford is now a six-time All-Star at just 26 years of age. The Fossa favourite marked his first game of 2025 with a hat trick of goals against Tyrone in the league and was unmarkable once Kerry got back to Croke Park and finished with an unrivalled 8-62 in Championship. His third Player of the Year award moves him out on his own in terms of modern-day heroes, with Kerry legend and four-time Footballer of the Year Jack O’Shea now arguably in his sights, and quite possibly the nine All-Stars won by Pat Spillane in his Kerry career.

Michael Murphy, the Man Who Came Back, marked his sensational return from retirement with an All-Star and a footballer of the year nomination, after the 36-year-old won Ulster and was Donegal’s top scorer with 0-52. He is also now a four-time All-Star.

Last but certainly not least, top of the left is a landmark first all-star for Louth’s Sam Mulroy, a pivotal figure from play and frees for the Wee County, and who he expertly captained to a first Leinster senior title in 68 years last summer. 

A meeting of GAA correspondents from across print, tv, radio and digital media, chaired by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns, voted on the final 15. The breakdown is Kerry eight, Donegal four and one each for Armagh, Meath and Louth. The PwC All-Stars, a GAA scheme which dates back to 1971, were presented at a gala black-tie event at Dublin’s RDS, shown live on RTÉ. 

PwC All-Stars Football 2025 (previous winning years in brackets)

1 Shane Ryan (Kerry) (2022)

2 Brendan McCole (Donegal)

3 Jason Foley (Kerry) (2022)

4 Seán Rafferty (Meath)

5 Brian Ó Beaglaoich (Kerry)

6 Gavin White (Kerry) (2022)

7 Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal)

8 Joe O’Connor (Kerry)

9 Michael Langan (Donegal)

10 Paudie Clifford (Kerry) (2021, 2023, 2024)

11 Seán O’Shea (Kerry) (2019, 2022, 2023)

12 Oisín Conaty (Armagh) (2024)

13 David Clifford (Kerry) (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)

14 Michael Murphy (Donegal) (2012, 2014, 2019) 

15 Sam Mulroy (Louth)

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