FIVE FOR All-Ireland champions Kerry, four for All-Ireland finalists Donegal and three apiece for beaten semi-finalists Dublin and Mayo.
That’s the breakdown from the 2014 GAA-GPA Opel Allstar football awards, which have been officially announced this morning. The awards will be presented at tomorrow night’s banquet, where the hurling team will also be revealed.
Kerry lead the way with Paul Murphy, Peter Crowley, David Moran, Kieran Donaghy and James O’Donoghue all honoured. Donegal land four awards through Paul Durcan, Neil McGee, Neil Gallagher and Michael Murphy.
Last year’s champions Dublin get awards for James McCarthy, Paul Flynn and Diarmuid Connolly. Finally Mayo trio Keith Higgins, Colm Boyle and Cillian O’Connor will all get recognized for their performances as well.
There are six first-time winners in Paul Murphy, James McCarthy, Peter Crowley, David Moran, Diarmuid Connolly and Cillian O’Connor. Only four players survive from last year’s Allstar team in Higgins, Boyle, Flynn and O’Donoghue.
For Higgins and Flynn, it is further evidence of their remarkable consistency. Higgins wins his third successive award while Flynn lands an Allstar for a fourth year in a row.
Kieran Donaghy wins his third Allstar, eight years after his first and six years after he last won.
The team in full is as follows – (previous years of award wins in brackets):
2014 GAA-GPA Allstar football team
Goalkeeper
Paul Durcan (Donegal) – 2nd award (2012)
Full-Back Line
Paul Murphy (Kerry) – 1st award
Neil McGee (Donegal) – 3rd award (2011 and 2012)
Keith Higgins (Mayo) – 3rd award (2012 and 2013)
Half-Back Line
James McCarthy (Dublin) – 1st award
Peter Crowley (Kerry) – 1st award
Colm Boyle (Mayo) – 2nd award (2013)
Midfield
David Moran (Kerry) – 1st award
Neil Gallagher (Donegal) – 2nd award (2012)
Half-Forward Line
Paul Flynn (Dublin) – 4th award (2011, 2012 and 2013)
Michael Murphy (Donegal) – 2nd award (2012)
Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin) – 1st award
Full-Forward Line
Cillian O’Connor (Mayo) – 1st award
Kieran Donaghy (Kerry) – 3rd award (2006 and 2008)
James O’Donoghue (Kerry) – 2nd award (2013)