RYAN MCHUGH HAS been named on the 2016 GAA/GPA Opel All Star football team.
The Kilcar man has been selected at left half-back on the team after a year that saw him excel. He is winning his first All-Star Award – although he did win the Young Player of the Year Award in 2014 – and is Donegal’s only inclusion on the team.
Picture caption: Ryan McHugh nets a goal against Dublin in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park. Picture by Geraldine Diver.
McHugh is regarded as one of the top players in the country at the moment and, even though Donegal lost in the Ulster final to Tyrone and bowed out of the All-Ireland to eventual champions Dublin at the quarter-final stage, the Kilcar flier has been chosen as an All-Star.
It means a fourth All-Star gong is headed for the Bavin mantlepiece.
[adrotate group=”53″]His father, Martin, was an All-Star in 1983 and 1992, while his brother, Mark, won one in 2012.
McHugh also received an Irish News Ulster All-Star Award this summer.
Donegal team-mates Paddy McGrath and Patrick McBrearty were nominated for GAA/GPA Opel All-Stars, but have missed out on selection.
McHugh’s Award is Donegal’s 32nd All-Star.
All-Ireland champions Dublin have six players included while Mayo, the beaten All-Ireland finalists, have four.
There are two players from Tyrone – Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte – with one each from Donegal, Tipperary and Kerry.
Uachtarán CLG Aogán Ó Fearghail chaired the selection committee meeting and congratulated the 2016 winners.
He said: “Gaelic football and hurling are team sports – but the GAA/GPA All-Stars offer us a chance to recognise and honour the warrior spirit of the players who, through their individual brilliance, helped ignite our season.
[adrotate group=”81″]“Enjoying a proud history that stretches back to 1971, the All-Stars award scheme continues to occupy a special place in the hearts and minds of the GAA public and I want to warmly congratulate the chosen players and know that it will be a massive honour for not only them and their families, but also for the Clubs who started them out on the road to being inter county heroes and now GAA/GPAQ All-Stars. I also want to thank Opel for their continuing support.”
A selection meeting in Croke Park on Wednesday whittled a star-studded list of 45 nominees down to the final 15 with the distinguished winners receiving their awards at a black tie gala event in Dublin’s Convention centre this Friday.
[adrotate group=”83″]The announcement of the 2016 GAA/GPA All-Star Hurling team in association with Opel will be made live on Friday night – as will the announcement of the Footballer and Hurler of the Year – which is voted on exclusively by the players. The award ceremony will be broadcast live on RTE 1 from 7pm.
2016 GAA/GPA Football All-Stars: David Clarke (Mayo); Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Philly McMahon (Dublin); Lee Keegan (Mayo), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Ryan McHugh (Donegal); Brian Fenton (Dublin), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone); Peter Harte (Tyrone), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin); Dean Rock (Dublin), Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary), Paul Geaney (Kerry).
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