Armagh and Galway dominate Football All-Stars as 14 first time winners named

October 31, 2024

Armagh's Shane McPartlan, Rian O'Neill, Jarly Og Burns, Andrew Murnin, Ben Crealy and Conor Turbitt celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup ©INPHO/Tom Maher

All-Ireland champions Armagh have landed six coveted slots on the PwC Football All-Star team for 2024 which is announced this morning.

All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker leads the contingent from the Orchard County where he is joined in defence by Barry McCambridge, midfielder Ben Crealey and forwards Rian O’Neill, Oisín Conaty and Conor Turbitt.

There are five counties in all represented, with a landmark selection for Louth wing back Craig Lennon. The St Mochta’s man scored 4-7 from play over the course of a memorable season for the Wee County and is Louth’s second-ever All-Star recipient.

Goalkeeper Niall Morgan is Tyrone’s only award winner and is the only one of the high calibre 15 to be a previous All-Star winner.

Connacht champions and All-Ireland finalists Galway have five players represented across defence, midfield and attack, while Ulster champions Donegal have Peadar Mogan and Oisín Gallen represented.

The PwC All-Stars were chosen by a panel of Gaelic Games correspondents from across print, radio, tv and digital media. The GAA All-Stars Awards date back to 1971 and were initiated by the Gaelic Games media led by Mick Dunne. The winning team will be presented with their awards at a black-tie banquet tomorrow night at the RDS, which will be shown live on RTÉ TV at 7pm. The PwC GAA/GPA Footballer and Hurler of the Year, and Young Players of the Year are chosen by the players directly and these awards, along with the PwC Hurling All-Stars, will all be announced live on the night.

PwC Football All-Stars 2024 (Previous winning All-Star year in brackets)

1 Niall Morgan (Edendork St Malachy’s, Tyrone) (2021)

2 Johnny McGrath (Caherlistrane, Galway)

3 Barry McCambridge (Clann Éireann, Armagh)

4 Peadar Mogan (Naomh Naille, Donegal)

5 Dylan McHugh (Corofin, Galway)

6 Aidan Forker (Maghery Seán MacDiarmada, Armagh)

7 Craig Lennon (St Mochta’s, Louth)

8 Paul Conroy (St James’s, Galway)

9 Ben Crealey (Maghery Seán MacDiarmada, Armagh)

10 Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen Rangers, Armagh)

11 John Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra, Galway)

12 Oisín Conaty (Tír na nÓg, Armagh)

13 Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra, Galway)

14 Oisín Gallen (Seán Mac Cumhaills, Donegal)

15 Conor Turbitt (Clann Éireann, Armagh)