Champion effort for XV of year
ALL-IRELAND club champs Glen and St Thomas’s have each scooped six spots on the respective AIB Club Teams of the Year.
Glen went one better than 2023 as they retained their Ulster club football title before beating holders Kilmacud Crokes in the All-ireland semi-final and then St Brigid’s of Roscommon in the final.
Ttheir tally of six awards matches that of last year, with Emmett Bradley, Michael Warnock and Ryan Dougan retaining their spots.
Scotstown ‘keeper Rory Beggan, who won an All
Star in 2018, is fresh from taking part in the NFL international combine in Indianapolis last weekend but will be present to pick up his award at Friday night’s Croke Park banquet, when the player of the year awards will be announced.
After bridging the gap to their only previous All-ireland in 2013, Galway’ St Thomas’s lead the way on the hurling selection.
FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Rory Beggan (Scotstown); Ryan Dougan (Glen), Brian Stack (St Brigid’s), Pearse Frost (St Brigid’s); Ruaidhrí Fallon (St Brigid’s), Ciaran Mcfaul (Glen), Michael Warnock (Glen); Conor Glass (Glen), Emmett Bradley (Glen); Eunan Mulholland (Glen), Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), Shane Walsh (Kilmacud Crokes); Ben O’carroll (St Brigid’s), Darragh Kirwan (Naas), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven).
AIB GAA CLUB FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES: Conor Glass (Glen), Ben O’carroll (St Brigid’s), Shane Walsh (Kilmacud). HURLING TEAM OF THE YEAR: Gerald Kelly (St Thomas’s); Paddy Burke (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall), Fintan Burke (St Thomas’s), Huw Lawlor (O’loughlin Gaels); David Fogarty (O’loughlin Gaels), Paddy Deegan (O’loughlin Gaels), Shane Cooney (St Thomas’s); David Burke (St Thomas’s), Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner); Mark Bergin (O’loughlin Gaels), Conor Cooney (St Thomas’s) Peter Hogan (Ballygunner); Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), Éanna Burke (St Thomas’s), Neil Mcmanus (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall).
AIB GAA CLUB HURLER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES: Paddy Deegan (O’loughlin Gaels), David Burke (St Thomas’s), David Fogarty (O’loughlin Gaels).