STARS RECEIVE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR NODS
THE PwC Footballer of the Year award will go to Galway or Armagh for the first time in over two decades after the shortlist of nominees was unveiled today.
Armagh’s Barry McCambridge will go up against Galway pair John Maher and Paul Conroy for the highest individual accolade in the game.
Their nominations, made by a committee of GAA journalists, means the stand out trio are almost certain to land All Star awards.
Man marking defender McCambridge, who has an eye for a score, and midfield colossus Maher, both 25, emerged from relative obscurity to be two of the leading lights of the summer.
Conroy (35) has been knocking around the top end of the inter-county game since making his senior debut in 2008, and is viewed as the early frontrunner for the award.
Vote
But with the potential for the Galway vote to split, it could open the door for McCambridge.
The relentless defender didn’t kick a ball in the Ulster Championship, before posting a stellar AllIreland series, which included goals against Roscommon and
Kerry.
Between 1998 and 2003, Armagh (2) and Galway (2) landed four
Footballer of the Year awards in six seasons.
Ja Fallon (1998), Declan Meehan (2001), Kieran McGeeney (2002) and Steven McDonnell (2003) all won but neither county has claimed the award since.
Over the last decade two players have won the Footballer of the Year award twice,
Brian Fenton (Dublin) and David Clifford (Kerry).
None of this year’s trio have ever been nominated before with Maher and McCambridge also first time All Star nominees. Meanwhile, the Young Footballer of the Year award shortlist has also been unveiled. Galway defender Johnny McGrath, Armagh wing forward Oisin Conaty (inset) and Donegal utility man Ciaran Moore will battle it out to succeed Derry’s Ethan Doherty.
The awards will be voted on by GPA members and presented to the winner at gala awards ceremony next month.
PwC Footballer of the Year Nominees: Barry McCambridge (Armagh), Paul Conroy (Galway), John Maher (Galway).
PwC Young Footballer of the Year Nominees: Oisin Conaty (Armagh), Ciaran Moore (Donegal), Johnny McGrath (Galway).