STAR DUBLIN MIDFIELDER Brian Fenton has been named Footballer of the Year at the GAA-GPA PwC All-Stars tonight.
Fenton, who plays his club football with Raheny, was outstanding for Jim Gavin’s side this year as they made it four All-Ireland titles in-a-row, beating Tyrone in the final.
The 25-year-old saw off stiff competition from team-mates Ciaran Kilkenny and Jack McCaffrey to become the first Dublin man to scoop the accolade since the latter did so in 2015.
Mayo duo Lee Keegan and Andy Moran landed the honour in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Fenton becomes the fifth Dublin footballer to claim the award; joining a superb group of players in McCaffrey, Bernard Brogan (2010), Alan Brogan (2011) and Michael Darragh MacAuley (2013).
Fenton is one of seven Dublin players to feature on the 2018 All-Star football team, adding to his prior recognitions in 2015 and 2016.
The award of Footballer of the Year was voted on by his peers and Fenton was presented with the silverware at the ceremony at Dublin’s Convention Centre tonight.
Comhghairdeas le David Clifford @Kerry_Official, PwC GAA/GPA Peileadóir Óg na Bliana 2018 #PwCAllStars pic.twitter.com/fD6KkIgocj
— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 2, 2018
Earlier, Kerry and Fossa star David Clifford was named Young Footballer of the Year ahead of Dublin’s Brian Howard and Tyrone’s Michael McKernan.
Clifford enjoyed a glittering debut year with the Kingdom seniors, finishing as second top-scorer from play in the All-Ireland SFC with 3-15 to his name in five games.
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Good to see Sammy putting in good performances. He could turn out to be an excellent Internation too. Great to see strength and depth at centre in Munster too, Scannel, Farrel, Taute, Arnold and even Goggins.
It would be nice to see some Munster developed players break into the national team, and stay there. It has been a long time since Conor Murray and Simon Zebo did so. There are a number of players in the background but they really need to start producing more for Ireland.
@grandslamkbo: O’Mahony? I agree that we could do with more lads breaking in for regular games but there’s such a log jam of Leinster players…
@EnKy: POM, of course. My error, I meant backs. No reason to drag thinly veiled hostility towards Leinster in this. What Munster-developed players do you think are being unfairly kept out of the first team or regular squad positions for Leinster players? As an Irish supporter, I want to see the best for the national team. Every team has to do their part.
@grandslamkbo: last weekend there were 3 Leinster starters, 2 – munster, 1 Connacht and 1 Ulster. For the next match it’ll be 3 munster, 2 Leinster, 1 Connacht and 1 Ulster. Not sure how you figure munster should be doing more.
@Jim Demps: It was a pretty poor attempt at trolling
This guy has got some serious acceleration.
The abuse joe get and yet the work he puts into these younger players and bringing them through slowly but making sure each part of the foundation is rock solid. Those who buy into this learning set up and do the required work will become far better players for us in the medium and long term.
@Chris Mc: where you seeing all this abuse for Joe?
@Jim Demps: Ahhhh c’mon now… Even Ive hurled the odd bit of abuse at him. And i think he’s flippin great.
The criticism from fans is constant. No matter what he does there will be those who think he shouldve done differently. That’s just the territory of being a head coach. Everyone has an opinion, so no matter what choice Schmidt makes, someone will disagree
@Jim Demps: I just made it up
@Rudiger McMonihan: ya ur probably right. I’m always dumbfounded that he goes with toner.
Fine player with a big future ahead for Munster and Ireland.