By P.J. Cunningham
office@irishecho.com
His county may have lost a second All-Ireland final in three years but there was no denying the high standard of displays all year from Galway midfielder Paul Conroy who was selected the 2024 Footballer of the Year.
In the small ball game, it was more straightforward as All-Ireland winner Shane O'Donnell received the Hurler of the Year trophy for the manner in which he led the Clare forward line right through the season.
At the All-Star Awards ceremony at the RDS at the weekend, St James’ clubman Conroy fought off county teammate John Maher and star All-Ireland winning Armagh defender Barry McCambridge for the ultimate individual award.
Conroy finally won a first All-Star award at the fifth time of asking, having been nominated four times previously but never making it into the final 15 names chosen.
On the hurling front, O’Donnell’s leadership display put him out in front of two other Munster rivals - Darragh Fitxginnon (Cork) and Limerick defender Kyle Hayes.
Clare’s Shane O’Donnell was named Hurler of the Year.
The Young Footballer of the Year award was picked up by Armagh’s Oisín Conaty, ahead of Galway’s Johnny McGrath and Donegal’s Ciarán Moore.
The Young Hurler of the Year award also stayed with the Banner as cornerback Adam Hogan got the nod ahead of Eoin Downey (Croke) and Limerick’s Cathal O’Neill.
In all Clare headed the hurling list by winning half a dozen awards with Hogan and David McInerney earning their gongs in defense with Tony Kelly and Fitzgibbon given the midfield jerseys. David Fitzgerald, O’Donnell and Mark Rodgers were recognised in the forward division which also included Cork’s Shane Barrett and veteran Rebel Seamus Harnedy.
All-Ireland runners up Cork accounted for five places on the Team of the Year with four-in-a-row winners Limerick hoovering up the other four.
For the Rebels, brothers Eoin and Robert Downey, Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett and the veteran Seamus Harnedy made the team.
Despite losing in their attempt to win a five-in-a-row, Limerick received four awards through goalkeeper Nicky Quaid, corner-back Dan Morrissey, wingback Hayes and corner-forward Gearóid Hegarty.
Hurling Team of the Year 2024
1 Nicky Quaid (Limerick); 2 Adam Hogan (Clare), 3 Eoin Downey (Cork), 4 Dan Morrissey (Limerick); 5 David McInerney (Clare), 6 Robert Downey (Cork), 7 Kyle Hayes (Limerick); 8 Tony Kelly (Clare), 9 Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork); 10 David Fitzgerald (Clare), 11 Shane Barrett (Cork), 12 Seamus Harnedy (Cork); 13 Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick), 14 Shane O'Donnell (Clare), 15 Mark Rodgers (Clare).
Football Team of the Year 2024
1 Niall Morgan (Tyrone); 2 Johnny McGrath (Galway), 3 Barry McCambridge (Armagh), 4 Peadar Mogan (Donegal); 5 Dylan McHugh (Galway), 6 Aidan Forker (Armagh), 7 Craig Lennon (Louth); 8 Paul Conroy (Galway), 9 Ben Crealey (Armagh); 10 Rian O'Neill (Armagh), 11 John Maher (Galway), 12 Oisín Conaty (Armagh); 13 Rob Finnerty (Galway), 14 Oisín Gallen (Donegal), 15 Conor Turbitt (Armagh).
