Tailteann Cup Team of the Year announced

Kildare captain Kevin Feely lifts the Tailteann Cup ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Champions Kildare have been rewarded with five spots on the 2025 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year.

In what was the fourth year of the new football championship, the Lilywhites emerged from a titanic final struggle with Limerick at Croke Park and claim the silverware and also a guaranteed spot in the 2026 Sam Maguire Cup.

There are six counties represented in the high calibre team.

Josh Ryan played a vital role in Limerick’s journey to the Tailteann Cup final, with a crucial penalty save and man of the match performance in the semi-final.

The full back line is made up of Kildare's u20 All-Ireland winner Harry O’Neill, Fermanagh’s only representative Lee Cullen and Wicklow’s Malachy Stone.

James McGrath, Iain Corbett, and Sam McCartan form a dynamic half-back line that has combined for an impressive 6-27.

Wicklow captain Dean Healy and Kildare captain Kevin Feely claim the midfield spots, both leading by example throughout the year.

Limerick duo James Naughton and Danny Neville, who combined for an impressive 3-43, secured the two wing forward spots, while Kildare’s Alex Beirne earned the centre forward position after contributing 3-33 this season.

The full-forward line features Wexford’s Sean Nolan, who hit 5-25, Westmeath’s Luke Loughlin, who was the Tailteann Cup’s top scorer with 2-41, and Kildare’s Darragh Kirwan, whose man-of-the-match performance guided Kildare to victory in the final.

The winners will be presented with their awards tomorrow night at a special black-tie event at Croke Park where they will be guests of honour alongside the Champion 15 and Joe McDonagh Team of the Year members.

Tailteann Cup 2025 Team of the Year

1. Josh Ryan (Limerick)

2. Harry O’Neill (Kildare)

3. Lee Cullen (Fermanagh)

4. Malachy Stone (Wicklow)

5. James McGrath (Kildare)

6. Iain Corbett (Limerick)

7. Sam McCartan (Westmeath)

8. Dean Healy (Wicklow)

9. Kevin Feely (Kildare)

10. James Naughton (Limerick)

11. Alex Beirne (Kildare)

12. Danny Neville (Limerick)

13. Luke Loughlin (Westmeath)

14. Darragh Kirwan (Kildare)

15. Sean Nolan (Wexford)