2026 Sunday Game Team of the Year: Full List & Reactions

2026 Footballer of the Year: Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo) ·
Most selections in 2026 Football Team: Mayo (7 players) ·
2024 standout player: Barry McCambridge (Armagh) ·
Selection body: RTÉ Sunday Game panel

A table of the key confirmation points from the 2026 football and 2024 teams:

What is the Sunday Game Team of the Year?

The Sunday Game Team of the Year is an annual selection by RTÉ’s Sunday Game panel, honouring the best performers in the All-Ireland championship for both football and hurling. It is one of the most anticipated GAA awards each season, often sparking debate among fans and pundits alike.

History of the selection

• The tradition has run for decades, with the panel selecting a 15-player team based on championship performances.
• It is not a public vote; the panel of former players and analysts decides.
• The 2026 football team used the standard 15-player format typical of GAA positional selections (The42).

Who sits on the panel?

• For the 2026 football team, the panel comprised Paul Flynn, Enda McGinley, Cora Staunton, Ciarán Whelan, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Mark McHugh (RTÉ Sport).
• These are all well-known GAA figures, lending credibility to the selection.

The implication: the panel’s credibility hinges on balancing recognition of team achievements with individual merit.

How was the 2026 Football Team of the Year selected?

The 2026 team was announced on 26 July 2026, following the conclusion of the All-Ireland football championship. The panel evaluated performances from the entire championship season, culminating in the final.

Mayo dominance

• Mayo led all counties with seven players selected (RTÉ Sport).
• Ryan O’Donoghue was named Footballer of the Year (RTÉ Sport).
• Other Mayo players included Sam Callinan, Enda Hession, David McBrien, Dara McDonnell, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn (The42).

Other counties represented

• Kerry had four players: Jason Foley, Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Kobe McDonald (The42).
• Dublin, Louth, Westmeath, and Tyrone each had one player (RTÉ Sport).
• Matthew Whittaker of Westmeath was noted in local coverage (Westmeath Independent (regional newspaper)).

The implication: Mayo’s strong championship run earned them a near-majority of the team, while Kerry’s four selections reflect their consistent presence in the latter stages.

Who were the standout players in the 2026 football team?

Ryan O’Donoghue’s achievements

• O’Donoghue was awarded Footballer of the Year for 2026 (RTÉ Sport).
• He also won Man of the Match in the All-Ireland final.
• His scoring and leadership were central to Mayo’s run.

Other notable inclusions

• David Clifford of Kerry was a near-automatic selection, alongside his brother Paudie.
• Kobe McDonald (Kerry) and Niall Scully (Dublin) added depth to the forward line (The42).
• The omission of Conor McManus, despite Monaghan’s deep run, was widely discussed on social media (Reddit (community discussion)).

The catch: every strong season produces deserving candidates who simply cannot fit into 15 slots.

How does the Sunday Game Team differ across codes (football and hurling)?

Selection process similarity

• Both football and hurling teams are selected by the same Sunday Game panel format, though the panel composition may differ slightly.
• The same criteria — championship performance — apply to both codes.

Historical differences

• The 2026 hurling team generated a separate controversy, with Joe Canning publicly stating it was “not what I picked as my team of the year!” (The Sun Ireland (tabloid news)).
• The hurling team’s exclusions — notably Tom Monaghan and Darach Fahy — were debated on social media and in local papers (Limerick Leader).
• The football team’s debate was more subdued, focusing on McManus rather than a broader backlash.

The pattern: Hurling selections tend to generate more vocal public disagreement, perhaps because hurling fans are more accustomed to county-level dominance patterns.

What controversies have shaped the Sunday Game Team of the Year?

Omission debates

• The Reddit thread on the 2026 football team saw arguments for Conor McManus over Brendan Wallace (Reddit).
• In 2024, Armagh’s eight selections were also questioned, though the team was widely accepted with Barry McCambridge as the star (RTÉ Sport).
• Facebook comments on the 2026 hurling team questioned the balance of selections, especially the exclusion of Galway and Limerick players (Hurling Banter (social media page)).

Hurling controversy (2026)

• The 2026 hurling team of the year, announced around 20 July 2026, sparked a wave of criticism (Limerick Leader).
• Joe Canning, a former Galway star, openly disagreed with the selection (The Sun Ireland).
• It remains unclear whether the Sunday Game panel will respond to the criticism or adjust its process.

What this means: the Sunday Game selection is as much a conversation starter as it is an award.

Timeline

• 2023 – Sunday Game Team of the Year selected (exact date unknown).
• 28 July 2024 – 2024 Sunday Game Football Team of the Year announced (RTÉ Sport).
• 20 July 2026 – 2026 Hurling Team of the Year announced, controversy erupts (Limerick Leader).
• 26 July 2026 – 2026 Football Team of the Year announced (The42).
• 29 July 2026 – RTÉ updates its coverage of the football awards (RTÉ Sport).

Clarity

Confirmed facts

• 2026 football team includes 7 Mayo players (RTÉ Sport).
• 2026 Footballer of the Year is Ryan O’Donoghue (RTÉ Sport).
• 2024 team announced on 28 July 2024 (RTÉ Sport).
• 2026 team announced on 26 July 2026 (The42).
• Panel members were six former players and analysts (RTÉ Sport).

What’s unclear

• 2026 hurling team composition – not fully detailed in search results.
• 2023 team details – not available in top results.
• Exact selection criteria used by the Sunday Game panel – not publicly documented.
• Whether the panel will address the omission of Conor McManus.

Quotes

Mayo lead the way with seven spots on the 2026 Sunday Game football Team of the Year.

— RTÉ Sunday Game panel, via RTÉ Sport

McCambridge the star on Sunday Game Team of the Year as Armagh dominate with eight selections.

— RTÉ Sport, referencing the 2024 team

THE Sunday Game panel selected their Team of the Year for the 2026 football championship.

— The Sun Ireland

Not what I picked as my team of the year!

— Joe Canning, former Galway hurler, on the 2026 hurling team, via The Sun Ireland

Summary

For the GAA fan in Ireland, the Sunday Game Team of the Year remains a seasonal flashpoint — part celebration, part frustration. The 2026 football edition rewarded Mayo’s near-miss season with a majority of picks, but the absence of a player like Conor McManus shows that even a deep run does not guarantee a place. For the Sunday Game panel, the choice is clear: maintain the current opaque selection process, or open it up to greater transparency and public input.

Related reading: The Sunday Game football Team of the Year 2026 announced · Ryan O’Donoghue named The Sunday Game Footballer of the Year 2026

Frequently asked questions