There is just one Donegal player on the list of nominees for the PwC All-Star Awards this year.
Kilcar forward Patrick McBrearty is the sole Donegal representative on the shortlist of 45 players released today by the GAA and the GPA.
McBrearty was one of the bright sparks in an otherwise dark summer for Donegal.
For the first time since 2010, Donegal didn’t reach the Ulster final, following a semi-final loss to Tyrone and the summer crashed to a halt with a qualifier hammering by Galway in Sligo.
The final 15 that make up the PwC All-Star Football team of 2017 will be announced live on RTÉ TV and will be presented with their coveted awards at a gala black tie banquet in Dublin’s Convention Centre on Friday, November 3.
The selections were voted on by a committee made up of Gaelic Games correspondents, and chaired by Uachtarán Chumann Luthchleas Gael, Aogán Ó Fearghail.
Also announced today is the short list for this year’s Footballer of the Year and Young Footballer of the Year awards.
These overall awards will be voted on exclusively by inter county players and a decision has been taken to nominate four players for the Footballer of the Year Award instead of the traditional three names.
Dublin’s James McCarthy and Stephen Cluxton and Mayo’s David Clarke and Andy Moran are the four names in contention. The decision to settle on a final four was made so as not to prejudice what the final team selection may be.
Shortlisted for the Young Footballer of the Year prize are Dublin’s Con O’Callaghan, Cork’s Sean Powter and Galway’s Michael Daly.
The GAA and GPA have announced PwC as the new sponsors of the All-Star awards in a partnership that will run until 2020 and see the rebranding of the awards under the title of PwC All-Stars.
PwC All-Star Football Nominations
GOALKEEPERS
Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), David Clarke (Mayo), Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
DEFENDERS
Jack McCaffrey, Cian O’Sullivan, Michael Fitzsimons, Philip McMahon, John Small, Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Keith Higgins, Lee Keegan, Chris Barrett, Colm Boyle, Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Pádraig Hampsey, Tiernan McCann (Tyrone), Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley (Kerry), Conor Devanney (Roscommon), Caolan Mooney (Down), Fintan Kelly (Monaghan).
MIDFIELDERS
James McCarthy, Brian Fenton (Dublin), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone), Enda Smith (Roscommon), Kevin Feely (Kildare).
FORWARDS
Andy Moran, Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O’Shea, Jason Doherty, Cillian O’Connor (Mayo), Ciarán Kilkenny, Con O’Callaghan, Paul Mannion, Dean Rock (Dublin), Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy, James O’Donoghue (Kerry), Peter Harte, Niall Sludden (Tyrone), Connaire Harrison (Down), Patrick McBrearty (Donegal), Jamie Clarke (Armagh), Daniel Flynn (Kildare).
Footballer of the Year Nominees
Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
James McCarthy (Dublin)
Andy Moran (Mayo)
David Clarke (Mayo)
Young Footballer of the Year Nominees
Con O’Callaghan (Dublin)
Seán Powter (Cork)
Michael Daly (Galway)
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