Gaelic football’s resurrection season has been reflected in a 12-county spread of nominees for PwC All-Stars 2025. The breakdown represents the multitude of storylines and tight contests that characterised a football season fueled by the game’s new rules and scoring rates, and had no shortage of star performers. Galway have picked up 3 nominations, with the Salthill Knocknacarra trio John Maher, Rob Finnerty, and Matthew Thompson all shortlisted.
After an 11-game march to the All-Ireland final, Donegal are the dominant presence with 10 nominations among the high-calibre list of 45 chosen. All-Ireland, Allianz League and Munster champions Kerry are next with nine contenders across every line of the field. The battle for the overall award of PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year will be chosen by the players themselves and will be a contest between Kerry star forward, David Clifford, his Kingdom midfield maestro Joe O’Connor and Donegal talisman Michael Murphy, who came out of retirement this season to lead his county again. The PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year is for players aged 22 and under and will be a choice between three headline-grabbing talents in Armagh’s Oisín Conaty, Donegal’s Finnbarr Roarty and Galway’s Matthew Thompson. Leinster champions Louth have three nominations while provincial finalists and All-Ireland semi-finalists Meath have five places – their best return since their semi-final showing of 2007 when they had six slots. Connacht champions Galway have three players included, and last year’s champions Armagh have five. The full breakdown is: Donegal 10, Kerry nine, Armagh and Meath five, Monaghan, Louth and Galway three each, Dublin and Tyrone two, and one each for Mayo, Down and Derry.
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “After a sensational season for Gaelic football, this list of 45 names is a who’s who of those players who lit up a year where we got our game back. The long length of the deliberations over this short list was down to the number of strong contenders for inclusion and adds to the honour for those who have been singled out for special praise here. I want to also pay tribute to David, Joe and Michael for their designation as contenders for the Footballer of the Year award and likewise to our young stars in Oisín, Finnbarr and Matthew. I want to thank PwC for their commitment to the great GAA institution that is the All-Stars.”
Gaelic Players Association CEO Tom Parsons said: “It was all about green and gold on All-Ireland final day and it’s not surprising to see both Kerry and Donegal so well represented on the 45-man shortlist. Massive respect to all who have made it. Speaking from personal experience, it certainly is a great honour and good luck to all ahead of the final selection being made. I am glad I don’t have the make those decisions. The list of six players who make up the PwC GAA GPA Footballer and Young Footballer of the Year nominees is laced with talent and skill, all of which was to the fore in 2025. To David, who’s seeking to make history with a third win, Joe and Michael and Oisín, Finnbarr and Matthew congratulations.”
Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner, PwC Ireland, said: "On behalf of everyone at PwC, huge congratulations to the 45 footballers nominated for the 2025 PwC All-Stars. Congratulations also to David, Joe and Michael, shortlisted for the PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year, and to Oisín, Finnbarr and Matthew for their nominations for PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year. These nominations are a testament to your exceptional contributions throughout an exciting championship season."
The All-Star nominations were chosen by a group of Gaelic Games Correspondents from across print, radio, tv and digital media and was chaired by Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns. This will be the 54th year of the awards stretching back to 1971. The PwC All-Stars will be presented at a gala black-tie event at Dublin’s RDS on Friday November 7, which will be shown live on RTÉ. The football team will be announced live on the night as well as the player of the year awards in hurling and football.
PwC All-Stars Football Nominations 2025
Goalkeepers
1. Shane Ryan (Kerry)
2. Rory Beggan (Monaghan)
3. Ethan Rafferty (Armagh)
Defenders
1. Brian Ó Beaglaíoch (Kerry)
2. Jason Foley (Kerry)
3. Gavin White (Kerry)
4. Michael Breen (Kerry)
5. Brendan McCole (Donegal)
6. Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal)
7. Peadar Mogan (Donegal)
8. Ciarán Moore (Donegal)
9. Ciarán Caulfield (Meath)
10. Seán Rafferty (Meath)
11. Craig Lennon (Louth)
12. Jarly Óg Burns (Armagh)
13. Ross McQuillan (Armagh)
14. Niall Devlin (Tyrone)
15. Kieran McGeary (Tyrone)
16. Dessie Ward (Monaghan)
17. Jack Coyne (Mayo)
18. Ryan McHugh (Donegal)
Midfielders
1. Michael Langan (Donegal)
2. Joe O’Connor (Kerry)
3. Odhran Murdock (Down)
4. Conor Glass (Derry)
5. John Maher (Galway)
6. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Dublin)
Forwards
1. Michael Murphy (Donegal)
2. Conor O’Donnell (Donegal)
3. Shane O’Donnell (Donegal)
4. Ciaran Thompson (Donegal)
5. David Clifford (Kerry)
6. Paudie Clifford (Kerry)
7. Seán O’Shea (Kerry)
8. Matthew Costello (Meath)
9. Jordan Morris (Meath)
10. Ruairí Kinsella (Meath)
11. Rob Finnerty (Galway)
12. Matthew Thompson (Galway)
13. Sam Mulroy (Louth)
14. Ryan Burns (Louth)
15. Oisín Conaty (Armagh)
16. Rory Grugan (Armagh)
17. Michael Bannigan (Monaghan)
18. Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin)
PwC GAA GPA Footballer of the Year Nominees
David Clifford (Kerry)
Joe O’Connor (Kerry)
Michael Murphy (Donegal)
PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year Nominees
Oisín Conaty (Armagh)
Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal)
Matthew Thompson (Galway)
