Louth’s New Number Six Takes His Place Among the Elite

30 October 2026; Louth footballer Dara McDonnell with his PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Award during the 2026 PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Awards at the RDS in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

When Louth needed a titan at the heart of their defence this summer, Dara McDonnell answered the call.

Dominant in the air, powerful in possession and increasingly assured in his defensive duties, the 22-year-old produced a series of performances that belied his age. Rising above the opposition to claim crucial kickouts, breaking lines with authority and even finding the net at pivotal moments, McDonnell played with the maturity of a seasoned veteran and the fearlessness of youth.

His performances throughout an unforgettable campaign earned him a Young Footballer of the Year nomination and, ultimately, a place among the very best in the country. Now, we celebrate a player who has officially taken his place among the elite: the 2026 PwC GAA/GPA All-Star at number six – Dara McDonnell.

McDonnell becomes just the fourth Louth footballer to receive an All-Star award, following in the footsteps of Paddy Keenan, Craig Lennon and his own clubmate Sam Mulroy. There is something particularly special about the rarity of the achievement. When Craig Lennon collected his All-Star in 2024, it bridged a 14-year gap to Louth’s previous only recipient. Now, with McDonnell’s selection, Louth have enjoyed All-Star representation in three consecutive years.

Four different summers, four exceptional footballers and four occasions on which Louth’s finest have been recognised on the national stage: 2010, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.

A New Role, A Remarkable Response

McDonnell’s All-Star recognition comes at centre-half back, a position he was entrusted with by Gavin Devlin following the season-ending injury suffered by Peter Lynch against Meath in Round 3 of the National Football League.

It was a change born out of necessity, but one that would ultimately transform Louth’s defensive structure.

The first real indication of what McDonnell could bring to the position came away to Cavan in Round 5 of the league. He was a commanding presence, bringing authority and control to the heart of the Louth defence as we recorded an impressive 1-22 to 1-12 win at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Cavan clash, Gavin Devlin reflected on Dara’s performance at six “Dara McDonnell back at six tonight, a position he wouldn’t really find himself dropped in at. I thought he was immense, he shored up the middle of our pitch fantastically tonight”.

From that evening onwards, McDonnell established himself as a formidable presence at centre-half back. His aerial ability, reading of the game and physicality made it increasingly difficult for opposition attacks to find a way through the middle of the Louth defence.

Yet, perhaps the quality that separates McDonnell from so many others is his sheer determination. He possesses an innate competitive drive, a refusal to accept anything less than everything, regardless of the circumstances.

That quality was on full display during the All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Monaghan, when fellow aerial presence Sean Callaghan was dismissed early in the contest. With Louth suddenly facing an enormous challenge, McDonnell stepped up and delivered a performance of real authority.

He won seven clean kickouts that afternoon in Croke Park, providing a vital platform for his teammates as Louth continued to compete under immense pressure.

Louth’s manager Gavin Devlin and Dara McDonnell celebrate after defeating Monaghan in Croke Park. Mandatory Credit © ©INPHO/James Crombie

Once again, Gavin Devlin was full of praise for the Monasterboice man, “he’s been a revelation in the air, defensively, on the front foot”.

It was a performance that epitomised everything McDonnell had brought to the Louth jersey throughout the summer. Resilience, leadership and an unwavering desire to compete.

The Day He Announced Himself

While his defensive performances were the foundation of his All-Star credentials, there was another side to McDonnell’s game that came to the fore in Inniskeen during Round 2A of the All-Ireland series against Armagh.

Against one of the championship favourites, McDonnell produced a sensational individual display, registering 1-3 and collecting the RTÉ Man of the Match award.

His goal was pivotal, the finish sublime, while his point-taking demonstrated the attacking quality that has always been part of his game.

It was a remarkable afternoon for Louth, who refused to accept defeat against one of the country’s leading sides. McDonnell and his clubmate Sam Mulroy were right at the heart of it, delivering when it mattered most.

A Champion at Club and County

The All-Star recognition is another significant achievement for Naomh Máirtín, with McDonnell becoming the club’s second All-Star recipient, following his teammate Sam Mulroy.

It is a remarkable achievement for the Monasterboice club, whose two representatives now stand among an exclusive group of Louth footballers to have received the accolade.

McDonnell was also a vital component of the Naomh Máirtín side that captured the 2025 Senior Championship, operating as a key figure in their midfield and providing the physical presence and athleticism that made them such a formidable outfit.

His importance to the club was underlined again last weekend, when he produced a talismanic performance in the relegation play-off final to ensure the 2025 champions retained their senior status. In the absence of the injured Mulroy, McDonnell stepped into the scoring responsibility, registering 0-5 and displaying an impressive range of free-taking.

From club championship success to the highest individual recognition in inter-county football, it has been quite a journey for the 22-year-old.

Young Footballer of the Year Nomination

As if an All-Star award wasn’t enough, McDonnell’s outstanding campaign also earned him a nomination for Young Footballer of the Year.

He found himself shortlisted alongside All-Ireland winners Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne of Mayo.

It is a landmark moment in itself, with McDonnell becoming the first Louth footballer ever nominated for the award.

With Darragh Beirne of Mayo winning the award, the nomination still acts as further recognition of the extraordinary progress made by McDonnell and a reflection of the exciting future of Louth football.

30 October 2026; PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Football Award recipients, back row, from left, Ronan Wallace of Westmeath, Conn Kilpatrick of Tyrone, Jack Carney of Mayo, Dara McDonnell of Louth, Jarly Óg Burns of Armagh, Jason Foley of Kerry, Niall Scully of Dublin and Stephen O’Hanlon of Monaghan and front row, from left, Shane Murphy of Kerry, Kobe McDonald of Mayo, Sam Callinan of Mayo, Gaelic Players Association chief executive Tom Parsons, PwC managing partner Enda McDonagh, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns, PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year Ryan O’Donoghue of Mayo, Darragh Beirne of Mayo and Enda Hession of Mayo, during the 2026 PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Awards at the RDS in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Recognition Across the County

There was further reason for Louth pride with the inclusion of Craig Lennon and Ciarán Downey among the 2026 All-Star nominees.

For Lennon, it represents a third consecutive year among the nominees, having secured the number seven All-Star in 2024. His consistency at the highest level continues to underline his importance to the Louth side.

Downey’s inclusion is equally deserved. The Newtown Blues man has been a metronomic presence at the heart of the Louth senior team for several years, bringing consistency, composure and quality to the middle third. His nomination comes during another memorable period for the midfielder, who captained his club to their 24th Joe Ward Cup title last weekend.

With three nominees in 2026, Louth’s All-Star recognition this decade has now reached ten nominations:

• 2024: Craig Lennon, Sam Mulroy, Dónal McKenny and Tommy Durnin.
• 2025: Sam Mulroy, Craig Lennon and Ryan Burns.
• 2026: Dara McDonnell, Craig Lennon and Ciarán Downey.
  

  7 November 2025; Louth footballer Sam Mulroy with his PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Award is interviewed by MC Marty Morrissey of RTÉ during the 2025 PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Awards at the RDS in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

A remarkable reflection of the progress and quality that has emerged from the county in recent seasons.

A Moment to Remember

Speaking to Louth GAA at the PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Awards on Friday evening, McDonnell reflected on what was a surreal occasion for himself, his family, club and county.

“Yeah, a bit surreal to be honest. A massively proud day for myself, my club, my parish and my county. Just trying to soak it all in tonight because days like this don’t come around too often. Well, hopefully they will, but it’s pretty surreal.”

Asked about the wider progress being made in Louth football and what the future might hold, he added:

“Absolutely, there are a lot of good things coming in Louth from the 20s and minors, so hopefully this isn’t the end of it. This is only the start of it now.”

Reflecting on his transition into the number six position following Peter Lynch’s injury, McDonnell was quick to acknowledge the belief shown in him by the management team and his teammates.

“Went back to six when Peter Lynch unfortunately got injured and Gavin put the arm around the shoulder and said, ‘Go back and do what you do’. Thank God it’s spurred on from there. It’s all down to Gavin giving you a bit of confidence and the likes of Dooley (Peter Dooley), Rony (Ronan O’Neill), they just believed in me and I am very privileged for it.”

Perhaps the most memorable part of the evening was recalling how he first discovered he had been selected.

“Thursday morning, yes. I was sitting at the table eating porridge and my brother Tadhg was in the room and said, ‘Well done’. I said, ‘What?’ He goes, ‘You won an All-Star’. My father was coming in the door – he was out getting milk that morning – and I said, ‘I can’t stay long, just to let you know I am an All-Star’. He turned around and was near crying, so yeah, it was pretty sweet alright.”

28 June 2026; Andrew Woods of Monaghan in action against Dara McDonnell of Louth during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Louth and Monaghan at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

For McDonnell, however, the award was never going to be solely about individual recognition. He was keen to acknowledge the many people who had contributed to his journey, from his earliest days in the club right through to the senior inter-county setup.

“I have a lot of people to thank for this All-Star. Coaches from U8 to minor, and then from the 20s into the senior setup. And look, when Sam won his All-Star last year and came back to the club, there were generations of people at the club. I saw how much it meant to Sam and the parish of Monasterboice last year, so I would imagine it will be the same this year.”

From a young footballer coming through the ranks at Naomh Máirtín to an All-Ireland contender and now an All-Star, Dara McDonnell’s journey is one that will inspire the next generation of Louth footballers.

At just 22, he has already achieved something that only three Louth footballers had done before him.

Dara McDonnell, Louth’s Fourth All-Star.