CLARE CAPTAIN, Eoin Cleary is the county’s sole nominee for the 2022 PwC GAA football All-Stars.
For the second year in a row and the second time in his career, Eoin has been nominated for an All Star award. Last year, he became the first footballer from St Joseph’s Miltown to become an All-Star nominee.
Once again, he is the only Clare footballer included in the 45 man shortlist despite Colm Collins’ side reaching the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals following wins over Meath and Roscommon.
Cian O’Dea, Ciaran Russell and Pearse Lillis were among the top performers for the county this year and can count themselves unlucky not to have received nominations.
In total, Cleary kicked 1-17 in this year’s championship, 1-10 of which came from play.
A Garda based in Limerick, Eoin made his championship debut in Colm Collins’ first year as manager in 2014. He was first appointed county captain for the 2020 season and has held the role while also continuing to be a key member of the Banner County’s attack.
All-Ireland champions, Kerry have received 12 nominations on the back of a season where they claimed All-Ireland, provincial and National League honours. The full breakdown is Kerry 12, Galway eight, Derry seven, Dublin six, Armagh five, Cork two and one each for Clare, Kildare, Limerick, Mayo and Monaghan.
All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Shane Ryan faces competition from Dublin’s Evan Comerford and Armagh’s Ethan Rafferty. He is joined by all six of his Kerry defenders in the list of 18 nominated which also includes three each from Galway and Derry as well as Dublin debutante Lee Gannon and exciting Limerick defender Cian Sheehan in the shortlist.
At midfield, Galway duo Paul Conroy and Cillian McDaid and Derry pair Conor Glass and Gareth McKinless are joined by Dublin’s Brian Fenton and Kerry’s Jack Barry in the centre field selection.
Up front Kerry’s razor-sharp attack is represented by Clifford brothers David and Paudie, with Seán O’Shea and Stephen O’Brien joining them in an impressive list of forwards that also features three each from Galway and Armagh with Dublin and Derry landing two slots each and Ben McCormack (Kildare), Eoin Cleary, Stephen Sherlock (Cork) and Jack McCarron (Monaghan) all recognised.
Kerry powerhouse David Clifford will be up against Galway sharpshooter Shane Walsh and the Tribes midfield star Cillian McDaid for the Player of the Year award. For Young Player of the Year, Derry forward Ethan Doherty is joined by Dublin defender Lee Gannon and Galway defender Jack Glynn in the voting.
Dating back to 1971, the All-Stars are selected by a team of GAA journalists from across print, radio, digital, tv and broadcast media. A separate Tailteann Cup team of the year will also be honoured this year.
The PwC All-Stars will be presented at a black-tie banquet in Dublin’s Convention Centre on Friday, October 28. The hurling team will be announced live on the night with the football team being released publicly 24 hours earlier.
PwC All-Stars Football Nominations 2022
Goalkeepers
Ethan Rafferty (Armagh)
Shane Ryan (Kerry)
Evan Comerford (Dublin)
Defenders
Jason Foley (Kerry)
Tadhg Morley (Kerry)
Brian Ó Beaglaoich (Kerry)
Graham O’Sullivan (Kerry)
Tom O’Sullivan (Kerry)
Gavin White (Kerry)
Liam Silke (Galway)
Seán Kelly (Galway)
John Daly (Galway)
Chrissy McKaigue (Derry)
Conor McCluskey (Derry)
Brendan Rogers (Derry)
James McCarthy (Dublin)
Lee Gannon (Dublin)
Lee Keegan (Mayo)
Jarlath Óg Burns (Armagh)
Seán Powter (Cork)
Cian Sheehan (Limerick)
Midfielders
Paul Conroy (Galway)
Cillian McDaid (Galway)
Conor Glass (Derry)
Gareth McKinless (Derry)
Brian Fenton (Dublin)
Jack Barry (Kerry)
Forwards
David Clifford (Kerry)
Seán O’Shea (Kerry)
Paudie Clifford (Kerry)
Stephen O’Brien (Kerry)
Shane Walsh (Galway)
Damian Comer (Galway)
Robert Finnerty (Galway)
Rian O’Neill (Armagh)
Stefan Campbell (Armagh)
Rory Grugan (Armagh)
Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin)
Con O’Callaghan (Dublin)
Shane McGuigan (Derry)
Ethan Doherty (Derry)
Ben McCormack (Kildare)
Eoin Cleary (Clare)
Stephen Sherlock (Cork)
Jack McCarron (Monaghan)
PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year nominees
David Clifford (Kerry)
Cillian McDaid (Galway)
Shane Walsh (Galway)
PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year nominees
Lee Gannon (Dublin)
Ethan Doherty (Derry)
Jack Glynn (Galway)
