Upon his return from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Rory Beggan, the only Scotstown player on the AIB club football team of the year, will claim his club goalkeeper of the year award during a ceremony at Croke Park this Friday evening.
The AIB team of the year roster comprises six players from the All-Ireland club champions Watty Graham’s Glen, alongside four from runners-up St Brigid’s, two from Leinster leaders Kilmacud Crokes, and a single representative each from Castlehaven and Naas.
The Monaghan-born Beggan has been stateside for the past month with the Leader Kicking group, honing his skills for the NFL Combine that took place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis during the weekend.
Beggan joined Wicklow’s Mark Jackson and Down’s Charlie Smyth as kickers, competing Sunday evening, Irish time. Darragh Leader had initially intended to compete with the punters on Monday, however, due to a minor soft-tissue injury, he had to postpone his trial until later this month in Florida.
The results of their performances at the Combine are eagerly awaited, particularly with the possibility of securing a professional contract from an NFL franchise. Their performances were scrutinised by scouts from all teams this past Sunday.
Despite these possibilities, it is expected that Beggan will be present at Croke Park to receive his award at the AIB club player awards on Friday night, as confirmed by the event organisers. The new GAA president, Jarlath Burns, will present this honour.
There will also be an announcement for the club footballer and hurler of the year winners during the ceremony. Glen’s Conor Glass, St Brigid’s Ben O’Carroll, and Kilmacud’s Shane Walsh are among the contenders for the individual football award.
The shortlist for the club hurler of the year includes Paddy Deegan and David Fogarty, both from O’Loughlin Gaels, and St Thomas’ David Burke.
Without a doubt, the most-represented team in the club football team of the year is Glen having secured their first-ever All-Ireland senior title in a come-from-behind victory against Roscommon’s St Brigid’s at Croke Park in January, redeeming their loss in the 2023 finals to Kilmacud Crokes.
On the match day, Glass was Glen’s standout player, propelling his team into the history books with his exemplary performance, earning him the title of “player of the match”. His fellow players, Ryan Dougan, Ciarán McFaul, Michael Warnock, Emmet Bradley, and Eunan Mulholland, also made the selection alongside him, making it an all-Glen midfield, particularly with Glass and Bradley.
Defenders from St Brigid’s, Brian Stack, Pearse Frost, and Ruaidhrí Fallon have made it into the team as well, together with forward player Ben O’Carroll who earned the thirteenth place. Paul Mannion and Shane Walsh from Kilmacud have secured the 11th and 12th spots, alongside Darragh Kirwan of Naas who has been chosen as the full forward. The team roundup ends with Brian Hurley from Castlehaven filling the 15th spot.
The year’s best club hurling team comprises six members from the triumphant St Thomas’, four from the runners-up O’Loughlin Gaels, three players from Munster victors Ballygunner, and two from Ulster champions, Ruairí Óg Cushendall.
Representing St Thomas’ from Galway are Gerald Kelly taking position of goalkeeper, Fintan Burke as the full back, Shane Cooney and David Burke handling the wings, Conor Cooney as the centre forward, and Éanna Burke as the full forward. From O’Loughlin Gaels, Huw Lawlor covers the corner back position, David Fogarty as wing back, Paddy Deegan as centre back and Mark Bergin contributes as the wing forward.
Third-time award winner, Dessie Hutchinson features as the corner forward in this scheme, with Peter Hogan, his team-mate from Ballygunner on wing forward and Paddy Leavey as their third award-winner, playing in the midfield with David Burke. Cushendall’s choices include Paddy Burke occupying defense position two, and ex-Antrim captain Neil McManus as number 15.
The AIB Club Football Team of the year includes Rory Beggan from Scotstown as the first number, with Ryan Dougan from Watty Graham’s Glen as the second, Brian Stack and Pearse Frost from St Brigid’s as the third and fourth numbers respectively.
The Team of the Year for club hurling as selected by the AIB consists of athletes from various clubs. From St Thomas’, we have Gerald Kelly, Fintan Burke, Shane Cooney, David Burke, Conor Cooney and Éanna Burke. Representing Ruairí Óg, Cushendall are Paddy Burke and Neil McManus, while O’Loughlin Gaels has contributed Huw Lawlor, David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan and Mark Bergin. From Ballygunner, team members include Paddy Leavey, Peter Hogan and Dessie Hutchinson.
For the football selection, the chosen players are Ruaidhrí Fallon and Ben O’Carroll from St Brigid’s, Ciaran McFaul, Michael Warnock, Conor Glass, Emmett Bradley and Eunan Mulholland from Watty Graham’s, Glen, Paul Mannion and Shane Walsh from Kilmacud Crokes, Darragh Kirwan from Naas and Brian Hurley from Castlehaven.