Award Sponsor

Brendan Rogers
2016

Karl Mc Kaigue
2017

Kevin Cassidy
2018

Daryl Branagan
2019

TWO years ago, Daryl Branagan was the man to pick up the award as the top club footballer in Ulster, as Kilcoo looked ahead to see if they could add All-Ireland glory to their bulging trophy cabinet.
“You can get a bit of criticism sometimes, I was told I wasn’t the best player in the house,” he joked as he picked up the trophy.

His brother Eugene has been named on this year’s All-Star football team. The ‘man in tights’ helped the Magpies eventually climb the mountain and claim the Andy Merrigan Cup.
The Gaelic Life All-Stars night will be a night of celebration for the Down kingpins and Steelstown who backed up their Derry and Ulster titles with All-Ireland success in dominant fashion.
Cahir McMonagle kicked points for fun in an Owenbeg monsoon as Steelstown ground down a formidable Moortown challenge, with Diarmuid Baker running relentlessly to link the play.
Denn had Cavell Keogan as their attacking fulcrum as they earned Ulster honours at junior level.

Conor Glass and Tiernan Kelly backed up helping their clubs to senior glory by consistent performances in Ulster. Jerome Johnston’s goal against Glen was the defining moment in the Ulster senior championship. Micéal Rooney’s last ditch c;learance at Croke Park ensuring Kilmacud Crokes didn’t put Kilcoo’s lights out before Johnston’s extra time winning goal. Then you have Niall ‘Bobo’ Kane’s goal (he’s claiming it) that got Kilcoo back into the game.

Derrygonnelly were one of the stories of Ulster, but once Kilcoo kicked into gear in the final, the woting was on the wall. Ryan Jones was their pillar of consistency at midfield, with Eamonn McHugh their key marker with his role on Niall Sludden central to their extra-time win over Dromore. Kevin Cassidy (2018), Karl McKaigue (2017) and Brendan Rogers (2016) have been the three players of the year before Daryl Branagan to annex this prestigious award. The Gaelic Life judging panel will sift through the performances of all 15 players to see who will pick up the All Sports Footballer of the Year title for 2021. It’s no easy task.