2014 GAA Football All Stars

1. Paul Durcan (Donegal) - 2nd All Star

He may have gifted Kieran Donaghy his second half goal in the All-Ireland final, with that possibly costing Donegal the title, but otherwise Durcan hardly put a foot - or hand - wrong.

2. Paul Murphy (Kerry)- 1st All Star

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15. James O’Donoghue (Kerry) Irresistible to watch and a constant torment to any defender who stood in front of him, O’Donoghue rose to the challenge of stepping into the boots of the injured Colm Cooper, with simply stunning results. Photograph: Dan Sheridan / Inpho

His man-of-the-match award from the All-Ireland final caught some people by surprise, as indeed did his second half point, yet Murphy’s defending was quietly and brilliantly effective all summer.

3. Neil McGee (Donegal) - 3rd All Star

Gigantic once again, still as reliable as they come, McGee famously out-scoring his man - James O’Donoghue - in the All-Ireland final, and ensured Dublin’s goal hunters, particularly Eoghan O’Gara, were duly shackled.

4. Keith Higgins (Mayo)- 3rd All Star

Still wonderfully versatile, his defensive work proved more important for Mayo this summer, and even if it wasn’t quite enough to hold out Kerry in the semi-final replay, there’s no arguing with his third award.

5. James McCarthy (Dublin) - 1st All Star

They may have been undone by Donegal in the semi-final, but Dublin’s unbeatable form up to that point was personified by McCarthy, his pace and ball delivery out of defence at times simply unstoppable.

6. Peter Crowley (Kerry) - 1st All Star

Another reason why Kerry won the All-Ireland, as Crowley improved, and matured, with every game, culminating with a couple of colossal blocks in the final showdown against Donegal.

7. Colm Boyle (Mayo) - 2nd All Star

A model of defensive and attacking ability throughout the summer, also chipping in with his trademark point in the drawn All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry, Boyle continued to make his position his own.

8. Neil Gallagher (Donegal) - 2nd All Star

Nearly everything Gallagher did on the field this summer - on and off the ball - influenced Donegal’s progression, most notably against Dublin, his towering strength also the downfall of repeated opponents.

9. David Moran (Kerry) - 1st All Star

A truly heroic resurrection from back-to-back cruciate injuries, Moran stood out in every sense as Kerry moved ominously towards All-Ireland number 37, a somewhat muted final in no way denying him a first award.

10. Paul Flynn (Dublin) - 4th All Star

For the fourth year running Flynn proved himself one of the best half forwards in the country, never far from a score, and displaying a consistency unlike anyone else in the business.

11. Michael Murphy (Donegal) - 2nd All Star

Could well have made it at full forward, or indeed midfield, Murphy’s unique versatility is catered for at centre forward this year, as there’s no disguising his immense influence for Donegal no matter where he plays.

12. Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin) - 1st All Star

So, after narrowly missing out in the past, there is no denying Connolly his award this season, his skill and athleticism second to none, his ability to point from any angle demonstrated with one all-evading gem against Donegal.

13. Cillian O’Connor (Mayo) - 1st All Star

Top-scorer for 2014, with his 5-36, the former two-time young footballer of the year matured again this summer, O’Connor also displaying fresh levels of competitive instinct that very nearly got Mayo past Kerry.

14. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry) - 3rd All Star

He may have played less than two and a half games all summer, and yet Donaghy still proved his star potential in every sense, unquestionably altering the course of the entire championship.

15. James O’Donoghue (Kerry) - 2nd All Star

Irresistible to watch and a constant torment to any defender who stood in front of him, O’Donoghue rose to the challenge of stepping into the boots of the injured Colm Cooper, with simply stunning results.