All-Ireland champions Mayo secured six places on the 2026 All-Star football team, leading a selection featuring 11 first-time winners and eight represented counties. The annual awards ceremony takes place at Dublin’s RDS Centre on Friday evening.
Mayo Claim Six Spots After Ending 75-Year Title Wait
Fresh off ending a 75-year wait for All-Ireland glory, Mayo dominate the 2026 Football All-Stars with six players named to the team of the year. Defenders Sam Callinan and Enda Hession join forwards Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald among the selected players. Jack Carney and Ryan O’Donoghue complete the county’s contingent as Footballer of the Year nominees, with O’Donoghue picking up his second All-Star following an earlier selection in 2021.
The teenage forward, who has since started his Australian Football League career, joins teammate Beirne in also contending for Young Footballer of the Year alongside Louth center-back Dara McDonnell.
Kerry Representation and Historic Figures Across Eight Counties
Kerry star David Clifford secured his seventh All-Star award, matching Kerry great Mikey Sheehy. Clifford now sits closer to the overall records held by Colm Cooper with eight and Pat Spillane with nine. Team-mates Jason Foley and Shane Murphy also earned selection for Kerry.
The 2026 selection spans eight different counties—the highest count since 2010—alongside 11 first-time winners, marking the most since 2022. Ulster contributes three first-time selections: Armagh wing-back Jarly Óg Burns, Tyrone midfielder Conn Kilpatrick, and Monaghan wing-forward Stephen O’Hanlon. Westmeath captain Ronan Wallace, Louth’s Dara McDonnell, and Dublin sole representative Niall Scully complete the lineup.
Mayo have had their season rightly rewarded, and with eight counties represented and 11 first-time winners, there will be clubs all over Ireland that wake up and share in this fantastic news and feel that they have played a part in this success.
GAA president Burns
Friday Ceremony at Dublin RDS Centre to Crown Player of the Year
The complete 2026 Football All-Stars team brings together seasoned champions and breakthrough talent. The definitive lineup features Shane Murphy in goal, backed by defenders Sam Callinan, Jason Foley, Enda Hession, Ronan Wallace, Dara McDonnell, and Jarlath Óg Burns. Conn Kilpatrick and Jack Carney anchor the midfield, while the forward line pairs Niall Scully, Ryan O’Donoghue, Stephen O’Hanlon, Darragh Beirne, David Clifford, and Kobe McDonald.
Attention now turns to the official awards presentation. The 2026 All-Stars ceremony unfolds on Friday evening at Dublin’s RDS Centre, where the Footballer of the Year will be crowned from a shortlist featuring David Clifford, Ryan O’Donoghue, and Jack Carney.
Worth a look
