The PwC GPA players of the month for the concluding weeks of the championship have been named. David Clifford and John McGrath have been recognised for their major contributions to Kerry’s and Tipperary’s All-Ireland victories, as have Aoife Donohue, Player of the Match and vice-captain, in Galway’s camogie triumph, and Kate Sullivan for her role in Dublin regaining the football title.
Clifford is on course for a third Footballer of the Year award and rounded off Kerry’s All-Ireland run with a super display in the semi-final against Tyrone when he scored 1-9 as well as a hugely effective performance in the defeat of Donegal in the final, scoring 0-9 from play for a record championship total of 8-62.
McGrath marked a spectacular return to form for Tipperary, scoring seven goals in the campaign, three in the All-Ireland semi-final and final, including two in the latter demolition of favourites Cork to win a first Liam MacCarthy in six years.
Donohue, Player of the Year in 2021, is recognised for her major part in Galway’s derailing of Cork’s three-in-a-row ambitions, scoring 0-2 from play as well as providing the assist for Mairéad Dillon’s ultimately crucial goal.
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Sullivan was Player of the Match in the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Cork and scored a vitally important goal in extra time, as Dublin got the better of Galway in the semi-final before shooting 0-4 from play in the big final victory against Meath.
The award winners are shortlisted by journalists and voted on by intercounty players.
Speaking at a remote press briefing following the announcement on Monday, Clifford said he hopes Jack O’Connor will continue as Kerry manager.
Asked was it “universal among the players that you want Jack to stay on,” he replied: “Absolutely, absolutely. I haven’t actually really been talking to him much in the last few weeks. It’s just been kind of busy, but look, we’d love for him to stay on.”
Following their All-Ireland final victory on July 27th, O’Connor appeared to signal he would be stepping down
“He’s the man for the job at the moment,” Clifford added, “so, hopefully he might reverse his decision and stay on.”
The final win over Donegal was a triumph for O’Connor, who rounded off the county’s 39th Sam Maguire with a run of victories over Ulster counties. Northern teams have traditionally been nemeses for Kerry, who also beat Cavan, champions Armagh, and Tyrone in the knockout stages to reach this year’s finale.
Clifford was also asked what O’Connor brought to the team that made him so successful, this year marking his fifth senior All-Ireland title with the Kingdom.
“Probably his biggest strength is that he’s very honest. So, you kind of always know where you stand with him, whether it’s a positive or negative thing, as in that he’s going to be telling you how it is. So that’s a big positive. And look, he’s just very wise, I suppose.
“There’s not many things that can happen throughout the year that he hasn’t experienced before. He seems to know, generally, when to panic or when not to panic, or when to keep it calm. It’s just probably his wisdom is the thing and he’s good fun around the place.
“He keeps it lighthearted when it needs to be lighthearted and serious when it’s serious. That’s probably the big thing.”
