Kildare duo scoop player of the year awards in Tailteann Cup and Joe McDonagh

LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago

KILDARE DUO ALEX Beirne and Cian Boran have won the Tailteann Cup and Joe McDonagh Cup player of the year awards.

Beirne starred for the Kildare footballers as they lifted the Tailteann Cup and secured their Sam Maguire status for 2026. He scored 3-33 across the campaign and was named at centre forward on the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year this week.

Boran was man of the match for the Lilywhite hurlers in their historic Joe McDonagh Cup win. The centre-back marshalled the defence as Brian Dowling’s capped a remarkable 12 months and secured their Leinster championship spot for the first time since 2004.

It’s an impressive Naas double, with both Beirne and Boran hailing from the county town club.

The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup hurlers of the year were also announced at a banquet at Croke Park tonight.

London’s Seán Glynn won the Christy Ring prize, the Clare native hitting 2-17 across a string of influential displays for the victorious Exiles.

Joint Roscommon captain Conor Cosgrave was recognised in the Nickey Rackard ranks, while Cavan’s top scorer Liam O’Brien took the Lory Meagher honour.

The All-Star awards, honouring the teams of the year in the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups, will take place next month.

Meanwhile, Loughmacrory will contest their first Tyrone senior football final after overcoming Carrickmore in a thrilling replay tonight.

Loughmacrory face Trillick in the decider following a 1-16 to 4-6 victory at O’Neills Healy Park, Omagh.

Tyrone U20 star Ruairi McCullagh was the late hero with an injury-time two-pointer to win a dramatic semi-final.

Ruairi McCullagh’s injury-time two-pointer that sends Loughmacrory to a first every Tyrone SFC final, beating their parish rivals Carrickmore by a point in a semi-final replay that had absolutely everything. Carrickmore scored 4 goals and lost. Incredible drama pic.twitter.com/QYByXC7Pgo

— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) October 17, 2025

The teams drew 0-19 to 1-16 last week, and this was another tight affair.

Cathaoir Gallagher and Aidan Woods exchanged early goals and Loughmacrory led by the minimum at half-time, 1-4 to 1-3.

Carrickmore hit three goals in the second half, Lorcan McGarrity and Tiarnan Loughran twice on target – including from the penalty spot in the 60th minute – but Loughmacrory responded every time to record a historic win against their parish rivals.