Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny and Cillian O'Connor nominated for Footballer of the Year
Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny and Cillian O'Connor are nominated for Footballer of the Year, while 10 different counties are represented in the final 45-man list of football nominations that make up the PwC All-Stars
Friday 15 January 2021 16:48, UK
Dublin's Brian Fenton (Raheny) and Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock) are joined by Mayo forward Cillian O'Connor (Ballintubber) in the shortlist for the PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year Award, which will be chosen by their peers.
The vote for the PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year Award will be an all-Mayo affair with emerging stars Oisín Mullin (Kilmaine), Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport) and Tommy Conroy (the Neale) shortlisted.
Players from 10 different counties are meanwhile represented in the final list of football nominations that make up the PwC All-Stars announced on Friday.
The history-making, six-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Dublin head up the high-calibre 45-strong shortlist with 13 men throughout every area of the pitch, followed by beaten finalists Mayo with 12 contenders for the final 15.
After winning a first Ulster title since 1997, Cavan have been rewarded with seven nominations. The Breffni County's previous winners are Ollie Brady (1978) and Dermot McCabe (1997).
Tipperary's memorable march to a first Munster senior football title since 1935 is reflected in four nominations for defenders Kevin Fahy and Bill Maher; with Colin O'Riordan among the midfield contenders and captain Conor Sweeney named among the forward contenders. Their last PwC All-Star in football was Michael Quinlivan in 2016.
Iain Corbett's eye-catching exploits for Limerick in their league and championship displays in 2020 is honoured with an inclusion among the 18 top defenders - a nomination for the Treaty footballers for the first time since John Galvin in 2010.
There are three nominations for Ulster finalists Donegal, two for Galway and with Armagh's Aidan Forker, Cork midfielder Ian Maguire and Kerry attacker David Clifford also included.
"I want to acknowledge all of those who have been chosen among this list of nominees for the PwC All-Stars," said Uachtarán CLG John Horan. "The 2020 season will go down in history for the backdrop against which it was played, and all of our players deserve great credit for producing the levels of skill and enjoyment we witnessed. Our thanks to PwC for helping ensure those heroics are recognised here."
PwC All-Stars Football nominations 2020
Goalkeepers
David Clarke (Mayo), Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Raymond Galligan (Cavan)
Defenders
Davey Byrne, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Murchan, John Small, Robbie McDaid (all Dublin)
Oisín Mullin, Eoghan McLaughlin, Lee Keegan, Chris Barrett, Patrick Durcan (all Mayo)
Ciarán Brady, Padraig Faulkner, Gerry Smith (all Cavan),
Kevin Fahy, Bill Maher (Tipperary)
Iain Corbett (Limerick), Aidan Forker (Armagh), Peadar Mogan (Donegal).
Midfielders
James McCarthy (Dublin), Brian Fenton (Dublin), Colin O'Riordan (Tipperary), Gearóid McKiernan (Cavan), Matthew Ruane (Mayo), Ian Maguire (Cork)
Forwards
Niall Scully, Con O'Callaghan, Ciarán Kilkenny, Dean Rock, Seán Bugler (all Dublin)
Cillian O'Connor, Kevin McLoughlin, Ryan O'Donoghue, Aidan O'Shea, Tommy Conroy (all Mayo)
Martin Reilly, Thomas Galligan (Cavan)
Shane Walsh, Paul Conroy (Galway)
Michael Langan, Ciarán Thompson (Donegal)
Conor Sweeney (Tipperary), David Clifford (Kerry)
PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year nominees
Oisín Mullin, Tommy Conroy, Eoghan McLaughlin (all Mayo)
PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year nominees
Brian Fenton (Dublin), Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin), Cillian O'Connor (Mayo)
