Gaelic Football Team of the Year 2024
18/09/2024 12:11:06
In what was unfortunately another understated year of inter-county Championship Gaelic Football, Armagh were crowned All-Ireland champions for 2024.
Below is my 2024 Gaelic Football Team of the Year, made up of fifteen players who despite the pessimism around Gaelic Football brought top-quality performances to the 2024 Championship.
- Blaine Hughes (Armagh)
- Johnny McGrath (Galway)
- Aaron McKay (Armagh)
- Barry McCambridge (Armagh)
- Dylan McHugh (Galway)
- Aidan Forker (Armagh)
- Peadar Mogan (Donegal)
- Paul Conroy (Galway)
- Michael Langan (Donegal)
- Oisin Conaty (Armagh)
- John Maher (Galway)
- Ciaran Lennon (Louth)
- Rian O’ Neill (Armagh)
- Oisin Gallen (Donegal)
- Conor Turbitt (Armagh)
2024 was a remarkable year for the Armagh goalkeeper as he returned to the inter county scene to win Sam Maguire. He had stepped away last year as Ethan Rafferty took over as No 1 but returned when Rafferty got injured early in 2024.
The Caherlistrane man firmly established himself as one of the best man-marking defenders in 2024, keeping tabs on the likes of Ryan O’ Donaghue and Cormac Costelloe early in the Championship before holding one of Armagh’s key forwards Conor Turbitt scoreless in the All-Ireland.
Named at full back, he became just the fifth Armagh man to score a goal in an All-Ireland Final when he popped up and delivered the most important score of the Championship for his county. An all-round defender McKay has positioned himself as arguably the most important player in Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh defence.
The Clann Eireann man aided his team with a return of 2-05 from corner back during the season, including the all-important goal against Kerry that sparked their comeback in the Semi-Final, while also man marking David Clifford and Shane Walsh in the Semi-Final and Final, keeping both to just one point apiece from play.
McHugh would probably be odds-on to be the 2024 Footballer of the Year had the All-Ireland Final gone the way of the Tribesmen, such was the colossal year the Corofin man was having before the decider. Man of the Match in the semi-final win against Donegal, McHugh was a huge attacking outlet for Padraig Joyce’s team throughout the Championship.
A legend in Armagh Forker is the second man from the Orchard County to lift Sam Maguire after McGeeney in 2002. The Armagh veteran led by example throughout the year scoring eight points during the season, as Armagh finally got over the line in the biggest match of all after so many near misses over recent years.
Mogan certainly felt the benefit of Jim McGuinness’ return to the Donegal hotseat in 2024. The wing back put in his best campaign to date in a Donegal jersey racking up 0-13 points from play, including a Man of the Match winning return of 0-05 points against Louth in their quarter-final victory.
The thirty-five-year-old j seems to improve with age as he turned in another brilliant 2024 campaign for Galway. The St James’ clubman finished the season with 2-16 from play from midfield and was sensational for his county as they reached their second All Ireland in three years.
The rangy midfielder is another Donegal man to benefit from McGuiness’ return as Donegal manager as he put in several eye-catching performances from midfield in 2024. His performance in the semi-final defeat to Galway when he hit four monster scores was befitting of any stage in Gaelic Football.
The twenty-year-old announced himself to the country in 2024 with a string of impressive showings for his county. He scored 0-04 points against Roscommon in their quarter-final win before turning in a Man of the Match performance in the All-Ireland, hitting 0-03 points.
Galway’s Mr reliable, Maher left everything out on the pitch for his county in every game this year. Praised for the man-marking job he did on Brian Fenton in the quarter-final win over Dublin he was instrumental as Galway’s middle third led them to another All-Ireland Final.
My Team of the Year is made up of fifteen players who despite the pessimism around Gaelic Football brought top-quality performances to the 2024 Championship.
A few Louth players were in the mix for inclusion in my team after yet another great year for the Wee County in 2024. I have gone for Lennon though, who switched between defence and attack throughout the year, contributing 4-07, earning comparisons to Lee Keegan along the way.
The Crossmaglen star is certainly a man for the big occasion. Such a versatile player O’Neill could basically have been put anywhere on this team and still stood out. He kicked an outrageous point in the All-Ireland to help his county over the line, as he enjoyed his best season so far in an Armagh shirt.
Donegal are finally reaping the rewards of having a fit Oisin Gallen in their team. The Sean Mac Cumhaills club man scored 2-33 as he helped his county reach the All-Ireland semi-final. Expect even more from Gallen in Jim McGuinness’ second season in charge in 2025.
Turbitt may not have had the best Final personally but up until then he had been instrumental in getting Armagh to the Final. He hit 3-22 throughout the summer including five points in the semi-final and is on course to win his first All-Star in 2024.
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Liam Lacey
Liam is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA and Football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also!). Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and International Football offering expert opinion and match previews and predictions. Occasionally even getting some right!