Five Down stars make the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year

Champions Down have been rewarded with five slots on the 2024 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year

Conor Laverty’s Mourne men followed up their Allianz League Division 3 promotion with a Tailteann Cup triumph when outgunning Laois in the final and have defenders Pierce Laverty, Ryan McEvoy and Daniel McGuinness included, alongside midfielder Odhran Murdock and inside forward Pat Havern.

11 October 2024; Down footballers, from left, Odhran Murdock, Pierce Laverty, Pat Havern, Ryan McEvoy with their 2024 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year awards during the GAA Champion 15 Awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

placeholder image — 11 October 2024; Down footballers, from left, Odhran Murdock, Pierce Laverty, Pat Havern, Ryan McEvoy with their 2024 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year awards during the GAA Champion 15 Awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “In just three years we have seen the Tailteann Cup establish itself in our calendar as a fantastic competition which gives competitive championship football to its competing counties.

“Reaching the semi-final showdown at Croke Park is a realistic goal for the many and not the few, and the entertainment value of those games and that of the Tailteann Cup final between Down and Laois was exceptional.

11 October 2024; Pat Havern of Down receives his 2024 Tailteann Cup Player of the Year award from Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns during the GAA Champion 15 Awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

“Congratulations to all of those who have been selected as having played an integral part in making the Tailteann Cup stand out and I know it is an honour that will be proudly shared by your families and clubs.”

Gaelic Players’ Association CEO Tom Parsons said: “It is unsurprising to see the Tailteann Cup finalists take the lion’s share of positions on the team of the year and the nine players from those two counties selected are very well merited. It follows success already this week for Laois and Down in the Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the Year, so it’s been a good couple of days for both.

“Congratulations also to the three Sligo men who have made the cut alongside one player each from Antrim, Limerick and Kildare. The Tailteann Cup is now firmly established as a prestigious championship and that hasn’t happened by accident. The buy-in from the players, managers, county boards and supporters has been hugely significant and shows what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time when we are all pulling in the one direction.

“Thank you to all involved and to the selection committee who deliberated on this final 15.”

11 October 2024; Down footballer Odhran Murdock receives his 2024 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year award from Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns during the GAA Champion 15 Awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Tailteann Cup 2024 Team of the Year

Killian Roche (Laois); Pierce Laverty (Down), Ryan McEvoy (Down), Kavan Keenan (Antrim); Daniel Guinness (Down), Brian Byrne (Laois), Evan Lyons (Sligo); Emmet Rigter (Limerick), Odhran Murdock (Down); Mark Barry (Laois), Darragh Kirwan (Kildare), Sean Carrabine (Sligo); Niall Murphy (Sligo), Evan O’Carroll (Laois), Pat Havern (Down).