GAA All-Stars: David Clifford has been named Footballer of the Year for the third time

David Clifford has been named the GAA-GPA Footballer of the Year for the third time, as All-Ireland champions Kerry had eight players named in the 2025 All-Star Team.

Clifford is now a six-time All-Star at just 26 years old, having helped the Kingdom to league and Munster Championship success, along with a 39th All-Ireland title and first since 2022.

The striker marked his county debut in 2025 with a hat-trick of goals against Tyrone in the league and compiled a personal tally of 8-62 in the Championship.

Clifford scored 0-9 as Kerry beat Donegal by 1-26 to 0-19 in the All-Ireland decider at Croke Park in late July.

Shane Ryan, Jason Foley, Brian O Biglawish, Gavin White, Joe O’Connor, Paudie Clifford and Sean O’Shea were the other players from the Sam Maguire Trophy winning team to receive the award.

Defeated finalists and Ulster champions Donegal received four All-Star awards, with Brendan McCall, Finbarr Rorty, Michael Langan and the returning Michael Murphy being recognized for the roles they played in their county season.

Murphy, 36, who was Donegal’s 0-52 top scorer and is now a four-time All-Star, has been nominated for Footballer of the Year, alongside Clifford and O’Connor.

Teenage star Rorty has been voted Young Footballer of the Year, with 19-year-old Noam Connell becoming one of the youngest ever All-Star winners.

Armagh’s Oisin Conaty was rewarded for his attacking exploits with a second successive All-Star, with Meath defender Sean Rafferty and Louth captain Sam Mulroy completing the 15-man line-up.

Mulroy led his side to their first Leinster title in 68 years.

Paudie Clifford and O’Shea are the others who will be part of the squad for a fourth time, while Ryan, Foley and White join Konate in being named for the second time.

Tipperary’s All-Ireland champion John McGrath has been named Hurler of the Year as reward for his outstanding season, including a two-goal blast against Cork in the All-Ireland final.

Nineteen-year-old Tipp star Darragh McCarthy has been named Young Player of the Year.

This year’s Hurling team, which was unveiled on Thursday ahead of Friday night’s ceremony in Dublin, included seven members of the Tipperary team.

The 15 players who make up the Football All-Star Team were selected at a meeting of GAA reporters from across print, television, radio and digital media, chaired by association president Jarlatt Burns.

“After a season in which Gaelic football came back with a bang, we have an all-star football team of players who were truly the best of the best,” Burns said.

“It was as difficult as ever to pick a team as the level of competition has returned to our game, and this honors the honor that has gone to our most deserving winners in 2025.”