Tipp’s Sweeney honoured as a Football All-Star

Conor Sweeney, who captained Tipperary to Munster glory in 2020, was selected on the PWC GAA/GPA All Star Football team which was announced this morning.

The Ballyporeen clubman led from the front as Tipperary won the provincial title for the first time in 85 years in November.

The becomes the third premier county player to win a football All-Star, joining Declan Browne (1998, 2002) and Michael Quinlivan (2016) on the honours list.

Sweeney was selected on an All-Star team, not surprisingly, dominated by All-Ireland champions Dublin who were represented by a record-equalling nine players on the final 15 – a haul not seen by the Sky Blues since their iconic All-Ireland championship winning team of 1977.

It is a landmark selection for Cavan too, who previously had received two awards in the 50 years of the scheme in Ollie Brady and Dermot McCabe. However, their magnificent Ulster Championship triumph is recognised through awards for ace goalkeeper Raymond Galligan, heroic defender Padraig Faulkner and the influential Thomas Galligan at midfield. In the case of goalkeeper and captain Galligan it makes him the 800th player to have received an All-Star since they were first held back in 1971.

Mayo’s provide the final two All-Star winners in corner back Oisín Mullin, who is nominated for the PwC GAA/GPA Young Player of the Year, as well as Cillian O’Connor in attack.

The awards were picked by a panel of Gaelic Games Correspondents from across print, radio, tv and digital media. The winners will be showcased on a special tv programme on RTÉ 1 this Saturday evening at 6.35pm, where the PwC All-Stars in hurling will be announced and also the winners of the PwC GAA/GPA Player and Young Player of the Year will be announced in hurling and football.

Uachtarán CLG John Horan said: “I’d like to extend the warmest congratulations to all of those players who have been selected and know it is an honour that will mean a lot to them, their families and the clubs and communities who they represent so well. These awards have stood the test of time as something truly special, and I want to acknowledge PwC for their support and helping ensure that after the achievement that was getting the 2020 Championships played that we can acknowledge all of our players who made it possible and salute the cream of the crop.”

Paul Flynn, GPA CEO said: “I know what a great honour it is to be selected as a PwC All-Star and all 15 players should be very proud of their achievements. Individually they were the best of the best in 2020. I also want to congratulate all the nominees who were shortlisted.”

Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner, PwC, said: “All of us at PwC extend our sincerest congratulations to the 15 outstanding players that have been selected for the 2020 PwC All Star football team. While 2020 was different from anything we have ever experienced before, these players showed resilience and adaptability to shine for their counties and gave the country so much to cheer about. These are individual awards, but, achieved as part of a team and it’s important to note that all of the winners are true team players. No doubt their minds have already turned to the 2021 season and we wish them all the best for the campaign ahead.”

PwC All-Stars Football 2020

(previous years selected in brackets)

Goalkeeper

1.Raymond Galligan (Cavan)

Defenders

2.Oisín Mullin (Mayo)

3.Padraig Faulkner (Cavan)

4.Michael Fitzsimons (Dublin) (2017, ’19)

5.James McCarthy (Dublin) (2014, ’17, ’18)

6.John Small (Dublin)

7.Eoin Murchan (Dublin)

Midfielders

8.Brian Fenton (Dublin) (2015, ’16, ’18, ’19)

9.Thomas Galligan (Cavan)

Forwards

10.Niall Scully (Dublin)

11.Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin) (2015, ’16, ’18)

12.Con O’Callaghan (Dublin) (2017, ’19)

13.Cillian O’Connor (Mayo) (2014)

14.Conor Sweeney (Tipperary)

15.Dean Rock (Dublin) (2016, ’17)