Six Offaly players chosen on McDonagh Cup Team of the Year
After their epic final meeting last June, finalists Offaly and Laois are the dominant presence on the Joe McDonagh Cup 2024 Team of the Year announced this week.
First-time winners Offaly were pushed all the way by 2019 champions Laois with the Faithful County surviving a dramatic O’Moore comeback before edging a great game 2-23 to 0-26 at Croke Park. Both sides have six players each selected on the Team of the Year.
The six Offaly players feature two each from Ballinamere (Ciarán Burke and Brian Duignan) and Kilcormac/Killoughey (Cillian Kiely and Charlie Mitchell), with Ben Conneely of St Rynagh’s and Shinrone’s Killian Sampson also included. Four of these players are set to feature in Sunday week’s Offaly senior hurling final where defending champions Kilcormac/Killoughey will face Ballinamere.
The rest of the star-studded 15 are representatives from Kerry, Westmeath and Down.
The Joe McDonagh Cup honours Galway’s former hurling All-Star, All-Ireland winner and GAA President from 1997-2000, who passed away in 2016, aged 63.
GAA President Jarlath Burns said: “Joe McDonagh was fiercely dedicated to the promotion of hurling and the spreading of its gospel. The cup that bears his name continues that mission and players like these ambassadors announced today do his legacy great justice.
"This is a fantastic competition and the prize for the Joe McDonagh champions of elevation into the ranks of Liam MacCarthy status is reflected in the high standards that are on view, year after year, and 2024 was no different.
“This team is a who’s who of hurling stars who have been leading lights for their county teams this season and in many cases for several seasons, and I know that this recognition for their contribution to a memorable Joe McDonagh Cup campaign will be proudly welcomed by their families and clubs.”
Congratulating those selected on the team, Gaelic Players Association CEO Tom Parsons said: “Your performances during what was a very exciting Joe McDonagh Cup championship stood out and have been recognised by your fellow players who voted for a longlist, that was then whittled down by the selection committee. You’ve been acknowledged therefore by both your peers and an expert panel.”
The Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the Year will be guests of honour at a gala black-tie event hosted at Croke Park this Friday night (October 11), which will also honour the Champion 15 team (comprising the star performers across the Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups in 2024) and the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year. The event will be streamed live by the GAA on YouTube from 7pm.
McDonagh Cup Team of 2024
1. Enda Rowland (Laois), 2. Diarmuid Conway (Laois), 3. Ciarán Burke (Offaly), 4. Ben Conneely (Offaly), 5. Pádraig Delaney (Laois), 6. Cillian Kiely (Offaly), 7. Fionán Mackessy (Kerry), 8. Paddy Purcell (Laois), 9. Aidan Corby (Laois), 10. Aaron Dunphy (Laois), 11. Killian Doyle (Westmeath), 12. Killian Sampson (Offaly), 13. Charlie Mitchell (Offaly), 14. Brian Duignan (Offaly), 15. Daithí Sands (Down).