It is award season in GAA with The winners of Footballer and Hurler of the Year gongs set to be revealed at a banquet in the RDS on Friday.
O’Donnell had a season for the ages as Clare romped to All-Ireland glory against Cork in July.
The Éire Óg Ennis clubman, 30, is set to be the first Banner ace to scoop the prize since Tony Kelly was named Hurler and Young Hurler of the year in 2013, when they also lifted Liam MacCarthy.
O’Donnell’s wizardry lit up Brian Lohan’s attack this summer, and his finest performance came in their dazzling 2-28 to 1-19 All-Ireland quarter-final win over Wexford, when he fired 1-4 from play.
A hamstring injury failed to hamper his influence in their final win over Cork, as he terrorised the Rebel defence.
He scored 0-2 and set up Aidan McCarthy’s vital first half goal to square the game at the break at 1-12 each, before they powered home 3-29 to 1-34 after extra-time.
Cork’s Darragh Fitzgibbon and Limerick’s Kyle Hayes are also in line for the Hurler of the Year award, but O’Donnell is the raging hot favourite to win it.
He is also in line to scoop his THIRD All-Star in a row, and his team are set to dominate tonight’s team after receiving 14 nominations.
All-Ireland final man of the match Tony Kelly is set to become the first man Clare man ever to win five All-Stars, and team-mate Adam Hogan is in line to win the Young Hurler of the Year prize.
Armagh's Barry McCambridge in Line for Footballer of the Year Award
Orchard ace McCambridge could be Armagh’s first Footballer of the Year winner since Stevie McDonnell in 2003 after scoring 2-5 from play from their defence.
He is one of six All-Stars from Kieran McGeeney’s All-Ireland champions when yesterday’s football selection was revealed.
Skipper Aidan Forker, midfielder Ben Crealey and hitmen Oisín Conaty, Rían O’Neill and Conor Turbitt also bagged gongs.
Conaty is in line to be crowned Young Footballer of the Year and is nominated along with Donegal’s Ciarán Moore and Galway defender Johnny McGrath.
But McCambridge faces stiff competition from Galway duo Paul Conroy and John Maher for the top prize.
The pair had colossal seasons for the Tribes despite failing to win their first All-Ireland since 2001. Tonight’s gala ceremony at the RDS kicks off at 7.30pm.
Contenders for Hurler of the Year
Shane O'Donnell - Clare
Shane O'Donnell is the favourite for the Hurler of the Year gong with Darragh Fitzgibbon and Kyle Hayes also in the running.
Clare forward Shane O'Donnell says “it’s incredible” to be in the shortlist for the Hurler of the Year award.
O’Donnell helped the Banner County to a thrilling All-Ireland triumph in July with a one-point victory over Cork in the Croke Park final.
The 30-year-old is in the running for the player prize along with Limerick defender Kyle Hayes and Cork midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon.
“It’s incredible to be in the conversation,” O’Donnell told The GAA Social podcast.
“It’s a surprise - I’ve always felt that I had the potential. However, potential is something you can feel but it doesn’t make it a reality and it may never materialise in the way that it did.
“I’ve had a good year but it’s kind of surreal. I’m proud of it and delighted to be in the situation I’m in.”
It was a second Liam McCarthy Cup success for O’Donnell after starring in the 2013 title win, which also came against Cork in a replay.
O’Donnell hit three goals against the Rebels as Clare earned a 5-16 to 3-16 victory.
He had to wait another 11 years for another All-Ireland medal and fired over two points in this summer’s decider.
“Given where I was growing up, I was never in the front of the pack when I was playing when I was younger.
“To be now actually reaching being named player of the year, it seemed like something I thought was possible but definitely not probable.”
Darragh Fitzgibbon - Cork
Darragh Fitzgibbon was integral in bringing Cork to a second All-Ireland final in four years.
Now with eight campaigns under his belt, the Charleville clubman provided a vital creative element to the Cork midfield.
His semi-final performance against Limerick in particular was a highlight of his season.
Fitzgibbon and his Cork colleagues seemed set for the county’s first All-Ireland title since 2005 as they led by seven points early on but Clare fought back to clinch a dramatic one-point victory in extra-time.
Kyle Hayes - Limerick
Kyle Hayes' hopes of helping Limerick clinch a record fifth successive All-Ireland Hurling title were dashed despite his own brilliance for the Treaty County.
Limerick were unable to make history with a fifth consecutive All-Ireland title but Kyle Hayes remained central for the Treaty County.
To the fore in Limerick's sixth straight Munster title, Hayes starred against Waterford and Tipperary in the provincial championship and was superb in the final against Clare.
Against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-finals however, the Rebel County devoted plenty of attention to negating Hayes’ impact in their 1-28 to 0-29 win.
Armagh's Dominance in the Football Team of the Year
The Football All Star team was announced on Thursday morning.
We already know the award winners for the football team, with All-Ireland champions Armagh dominating proceedings.
The Hurling Team of the Year will be announced during tonight’s ceremony.
RTE One will broadcast the ceremony from 7.30 pm, and it can be streamed live and for free on the RTE Player.
We will have all the live updates right here, including who is named on the hurling team of the year and who wins the Player of the Year award in both Hurling and Football.
We will have also have plenty of pictures of the players suited and booted alongside their respective partners so make sure to stay tuned to all the updates.
A Night of Recognition and Celebration
Kieran McGeeney speaks at this year’s award ceremony. He says that night likes this are great because of the recognition of the players. He says that players are now put up on a pedestal and putting them in the limelight and creating role models.
In an excellent year for GAA, we were treated to one of the most exciting years of hurling. Dominant force Limerick was beaten twice by Cork, but Clare came out on top.
The Hurling All Star team will be unveiled during the live broadcast.
The football team has already been named, and Armagh and Galway are dominating proceedings.
RTE One will show the Awards ceremony live from 7.30 pm and it can be streamed on the RTE Player.
The All-Star Teams
PwC All Star Football Team: Niall Morgan (Tyrone), Johnny McGrath (Galway), Barry McCambridge (Armagh), Peadar Mogan (Donegal), Dylan McHugh (Galway), Aidan Forker (Armagh), Craig Lennon (Louth), Ben Crealey (Armagh), Paul Conroy (Galway), Rian O'Neill (Armagh), John Maher (Galway), Oisin Conaty (Armagh), Robert Finnerty (Galway), Oisin Gallen (Donegal), Conor Turbitt (Armagh).
PwC All Star Hurling Nominees:
Goalkeepers: Patrick Collins (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick), Eibhear Quilligan (Clare)
Defenders: Adam Hogan (Clare), Conor Cleary (Clare), Conor Leen (Clare), Diarmuid Ryan (Clare), John Conlon (Clare), David McInerney (Clare), Eoin Downey (Cork), Robert Downey (Cork), Ciarán Joyce (Cork), Dan Morrissey (Limerick), Kyle Hayes (Limerick), Barry Nash (Limerick), Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny), David Blanchfield (Kilkenny), Calum Lyons (Waterford), Tadhg de Búrca (Waterford), Chris Crummey (Dublin), Paddy Burke (Antrim)
Midfielders: Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), Tim O’Mahony (Cork), Tony Kelly (Clare), Cathal O’Neill (Limerick), Conor Burke (Dublin), Cian Kenny (Kilkenny)
Forwards: Shane O’Donnell (Clare), Mark Rodgers (Clare), Aidan McCarthy (Clare), Peter Duggan (Clare), David Fitzgerald (Clare), David Reidy (Clare), Shane Barrett (Cork), Seamus Harnedy (Cork), Patrick Horgan (Cork), Brian Hayes (Cork), Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick), Tom Morrissey (Limerick), Aaron Gillane (Limerick), David Reidy (Limerick), Lee Chin (Wexford), Rory O’Connor (Wexford), John Donnelly (Kilkenny), James McNaughton (Antrim)
Adam Hogan (Clare), Eoin Downey (Cork), and Dan Morrissey (Limerick) all win All-Stars
Limerick's Nickie Quaid is the PwC 2024 All-Star goalkeeper of the Year.
We'll find out the Hurling All-Star team very soon as we move on from football.
The 2024 All Star team is on stage. Niall Morgan is not in attendance as he is travelling.
Clare Dominates the Nominations
There are strong hopes of a large Clare haul ahead of this evenings All Star Awards ceremony.
Feakle’s Adam Hogan is looking to round off what is already a dream year as he is in contention for the Young Hurler of The Year award alongside Cork’s Eoin Downey and Limerick’s Cathal O’Neill.
Clare’s Shane O’Donnell is many people’s favourite to take away the Hurler of the Year award with Kyle Hayes of Limerick and Cork midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon nominated alongside the Eire Og clubman.
Make sure to keep up to date and follow us on all platforms
