By Karl O’Kane
The Football All Stars are no longer the same All-Ireland Final fest they used to be with everyone else discarded. A new All-Ireland round robin system and more games have shook things up, meaning that players who don’t reach the final now have a far better chance of winning an All Star. In fact, back in 2023, the first year of the round robin, Roscommon’s Enda Smyth deservedly won an All Star, despite his side not even making an All-Ireland quarter-final. In the same year, Galway captain Sean Kelly came very close too with his side losing to Mayo by a point at the same stage of the competition as Smith’s Rossies – the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-final. It happened again last year with Tyrone goalie Niall Morgan winning an All Star despite his side losing out to Roscommon in a preliminary quarter-final. Beaten quarter-finalists have managed one All Star apiece in the new format, Louth’s Craig Lennon (2024) and Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy (2023). A tentative pattern has been established over two seasons of the group stages, with one player apiece from the beaten preliminary quarter-finalists and quarter-finalist winning an All Star. This is full of little nuances. Michael McKernan has probably been Tyrone’s best player this year, but isn’t in due to his shoulder injury, which ruled him out of the Dublin win. Kerry didn’t meet a Division 1 team until last weekend and have been plagued by injury, so have less representation than you might imagine at this stage, and so on. Historically, there has been more weight placed on their big games than other sides, due to the lack of them. Donegal have played a whopping nine games, and have had different players step up on different days. Very few could maintain standards over that amount of Championship games. There’s very little between a lot of their players. Michael Langan, for example, has had huge moments – the goal against Monaghan at the weekend – and games; against Tyrone, and was our preseason tip for Footballer of the Year. He isn’t in the team – yet – while other top level performers to miss out are Down’s Odhran Murdock – magnificent against Galway – and Galway’s Robert Finnerty. Meath have taken some big scalps in Galway, Dublin and Kerry, so their representation is high at three players. Nine counties are represented, with the county by county breakdown of our team: Donegal (4), Meath (3), Armagh (2), Monaghan (1), Kerry (1), Galway (1), Tyrone (1), Derry (1) and Louth (1) Players can very much still play themselves into and out of the team, and one or two outliers are almost guaranteed. Here’s how the All Stars are shaping up with the three biggest games of the year likely to change things in a big way. Goalkeeper: Rory Beggan (Monaghan) Loads of goalies have had their moments this year, with Shane Ryan of Kerry right in the frame after last weekend. Ethan Rafferty probably slipped out with his second half last week, but was superb up to that, which leaves Rory Beggan slightly ahead with his heavy scoring (0-59 in 13 matches this year, including 26 two pointers) and booming kickouts. Shaun Patton is not far off. Stephen Cluxton also had a very good year. All to play for here still. Right Corner Back: Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal): For an under-20, he’s been out of this world. Has gears others don’t have. Has even outdone Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Moore for energy and driving runs forward. Tackles like a dog, fearless and can kick the ball inside and score. Donegal have a gem. Full Back: Sean Rafferty (Meath): Breakthrough player of the season. Rafferty has been immense in man marking the likes of Con O’Callaghan, David Clifford and Shane Walsh, and with his relieving runs upfield. Taking him off for five minutes against Galway almost cost Meath the game as they leaked two goals when he wasn’t there. Left Corner Back: Brendan McCole (Donegal): Donegal’s go-to man marker for the likes of Darragh Canavan and Ryan O’Donoghue. His duel with Jordan Morris will be pivotal against Meath and if it’s a Donegal/Kerry final, he’ll be marking David Clifford. Mayo’s Jack Coyne also had an excellent year. Right Half Back: Ciaran Caulfield (Meath): Caulfield is the engine of the Meath team. Excellent against Dublin, Kerry and Galway. When he tidies up his final product Meath have an elite level player. Kerry’s Gavin White, Mayo’s David McBrien and Monaghan’s Dessie Ward have all performed well this year. Centre Half Back: Kieran McGeary (Tyrone): Man of the match in Tyrone’s wins over Dublin and Cavan (Ulster quarterfinal). A defensive dog and attacking force. The likes of Meath duo Sean Coffey, Donegal’s Ciaran Moore and Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy have been very good. Left Half Back: Jarlath Óg Burns (Armagh): Bar Conaty, he was Armagh’s best player against Kerry. A relentless marauding figure at wing back all year, punching and kicking big scores and winning kickouts. He is certainly in the frame here. Midfield: Conor Glass (Derry): No-one has been better at midfield this year than the Derry captain. The second top scorer from play in Division 1, from midfield. Already the top defensive midfielder in the country. Carried his county at times and got huge Championship goals against Galway and Armagh. May not hold on given Derry didn’t make the last 12. Michael Langan and Joe O’Connor could come strong. Midfield: John Maher (Galway): Heartbeat of the Galway team. Relentless in setting up the goal that saved Galway against Derry and a goal against Meath that should have sparked others into life. Like Glass, may not hold on. Dublin duo Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne and Ciaran Kilkenny, and Cork’s Colm O’Callaghan were also excellent at stages. Right Half Forward: Oisin Conaty (Armagh) Elusive, electric, never stops working. His six points against Kerry capped a sensational season. May not hold on if Kerry go to a final, with Joe O’Connor, Sean O’Shea and Paudie Clifford pushing hard, but has a big chance of winning his second All Star. Centre Half Forward: Matthew Costello (Meath): Set the tone in the opening 15 minutes against Dublin and made huge plays in the Galway win, and even the Leinster final against Louth, where his goal blew the game wide open. Serious range of passing and elusive running. Left Half Forward: Shane O’Donnell (Donegal): Immense ball carrier and showed his quality with three points against Monaghan at the weekend. Donegal’s link man. Boundless energy. Sean Bugler had a big year for Dublin until the Tyrone game. Right Corner Forward: Ryan Burns (Louth): It will be hard for Burns to hold on with Louth out. Hasn’t got the profile either. Hit 0-3 in the win over Kildare, 1-3 in the Leinster Final win over Meath, 0-5 against Monaghan and kept Louth in it against Donegal with four first half points. All these scores came from play. Just edges out Micheal Bannigan, Sam Mulroy, Darren McCurry and Robert Finnerty. Finnerty was quiet against Meath, but consistently scored heavily. Full Forward: Michael Murphy (Donegal): His leadership and quality in scoring, coming and catching kickouts at vital stages and converting important free has stood out. Carried Donegal up front for a couple of games. Man of the match in the big wins over Armagh and Mayo. Left Corner Forward: David Clifford (Kerry): 0-7 from play in the win over Armagh and little doubt the focus Armagh had on him left the door ajar for Sean O’Shea. Hit 3-7 against Cavan and 0-9 and 1-8 in the two Cork games. Hard to see Clifford not winning a sixth All Star and he’s still just 26.