SIX PLAYERS FROM All-Ireland champions Dublin and four from beaten finalists Mayo have been honoured in the 2016 GAA-GPA All-Star football team.
There are two award winners from Ulster champions Tyrone with one player apiece from Donegal, Tipperary and Kerry.
Champions Dublin have winners in Jonny Cooper, Philly McMahon, Brian Fenton, Diarmuid Connolly, Ciaran Kilkenny and Dean Rock.
Mayo’s players recognised are David Clarke, Brendan Harrison, Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle.
Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte are the Tyrone victors with Donegal’s Ryan McHugh, Tipperary’s Michael Quinlivan and Kerry’s Paul Geaney completing the line-up.
- David Clarke (Mayo - Ballina Stephenites)1/15
There are eight first-time winners in Clarke, Harrison, Cooper, McHugh, Harte, Rock, Quinlivan and Geaney.
McHugh follows in the footsteps of previous family winners in his brother Mark (2012), father Martin (1983 and 1992), and uncle James (1992). Rock emulates his father Barney, a winner in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Quinlivan becomes only the second ever Tipperary football winner after attacker Declan Browne was honoured in 1998 and 2003.
Keegan picks up his fourth award, the highest total ever achieved by a player from Mayo. He is one of five players who were also recognised last year with McMahon, Fenton, Donnelly and Kilkenny also award winners in 2015.
Here’s the team in full for the awards scheme – in association with Opel – with the winners to be honoured at a gala event in Dublin’s convention Centre tomorrow night.
2016 GAA/GPA All-Star Football Team of the Year
1. David Clarke (Mayo) – First time winner
2. Brendan Harrison (Mayo) – First time winner
3. Jonny Cooper (Dublin) – First time winner
4. Philly McMahon (Dublin) – (Winner in 2015)
5. Lee Keegan (Mayo) – (Winner in 2012, 2013 and 2015)
6. Colm Boyle (Mayo) – (Winner in 2013 and 2014)
7. Ryan McHugh (Donegal) – First time winner
8. Brian Fenton (Dublin) – (Winner in 2015)
9. Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone) – (Winner in 2015)
10. Peter Harte (Tyrone) – First time winner
11. Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin) – (Winner in 2014)
12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin) – (Winner in 2015)
13. Dean Rock (Dublin) – First time winner
14. Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary) – First time winner
15. Paul Geaney (Kerry) – First time winner
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Best of luck to James and his team. The Championship missed them this year at the business end. Dublin are a team for the ages and fair play to them but no team has been quite as exciting as the Green and Red over the past few years!
@samstheman: Maybe for the likes of Kilkenny or Dublin, the rest of us lose interest.
They certainly need to blood a few players but I would them expect to be there come the semi finals. The early exit this year could give them a well earned rest. The only team to really put it up to Dublin recently.
New sponsor on the way ….”C&C “ are professional bottlers too.
5 in a row for the Dubs is now ratified by the Mayo county board.
Mayo Mayo Mayo my arse..
Tactically inept, underwhelming backroom staff, only one involved in senior club football with a beyond pathetic Kiltaine, Horan will blood life and fight into Mayo but will be swallowed up in a battle with Jim Gavin, hope I’m wrong but I’m very doubtful.