One Mayo player on Champion 15 Team of the Year
An eight-county spread represents the cream of the crop that make up the 2026 Champion 15 hurling team of the year – and it includes Ballyhaunis and Mayo ace Cormac Phillips.
The star-studded selection acknowledges the standout performers across the Christy Ring Cup, Nickey Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup competitions.
The players will be honoured at a special awards ceremony at Croke Park this Friday night (October 16).
Mayo advanced to the semi-finals the Nickey Rackard Cup, where they were defeated by New York, and Phillips was a leading light in that run, scoring heavily from placed balls and from play.
New York’s went on to win the Nickey Rackard, adding to the Lory Meagher Cup won in 2025, and they are recognised with spots for rampaging forward A.J. Wills and defender and former Tipp footballer Bill Maher.
Christy Ring Cup champions Derry are represented by goalkeeper Seán Kelly, defenders Patrick Turner and Conor Coyle, midfield engine Cormac O’Doherty, and forwards Deaglán Foley and Shea Cassidy.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Lory Meagher Cup-winning captain, Reuben Murray, represents Longford alongside full-back colleague Seán Lancaster.
Prolific Kerry forward Padraig O’Boyle is listed at full-forward, while Sligo’s Andrew Kilcullen also joins Cormac Philips in the half-forward line.
Joe Murray’s defiance in defence for Leitrim earns him a place in the full-back line, while Tyrone’s Fionn Devlin completes the half-back line.
The Champion 15 Team of the Year 2026 in full is as follows: Seán Kelly (Derry); Patrick Turner (Derry), Seán Lancaster (Longford), Joe Murray (Leitrim); Bill Maher (New York), Conor Coyle (Derry), Fionn Devlin (Tyrone); Reuben Murray (Longford), Cormac O’Doherty (Derry); A.J. Wills (New York), Deaglán Foley (Derry), Cormac Phillips (Mayo); Andrew Kilcullen (Sligo), Pádraig Boyle (Kerry), Shea Cassidy (Derry).
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns commented: “I want to congratulate the players selected on this year’s Champion 15. To be recognised as a leading light from across three championships is a serious achievement and reflective of the lasting impression made by your endeavours.
“I know this recognition will be well received by your families and clubs, and I am delighted that this night in our calendar allows us to pay tribute to these stars.”
GPA CEO Tom Parsons, a native of Mayo, added: “The Champion 15 Team of the Year brings together the best individual players across the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups. It's been a memorable season at this level, with Derry, New York and Longford all lifting silverware, and it's no surprise to see so many of their players, along with the other finalists, well represented on the team.
“Mayo's Cormac Phillips and Sligo's Andrew Kilcullen deserve special mention for making the cut from outside of those sides.
“Congratulations to all 15 players. Standing out across the three different tiers is no easy task, and being selected is a real reflection of your performances this year. Awards like this show the quality of hurling across all levels of the game, and you've each played a big part in that.”
The Champion 15 team was selected by an independent panel of Gaelic games correspondents, with nominations submitted by GPA player representatives. An overall hurler of the year award for the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cup competitions will be presented this Friday night at Croke Park, where the Joe McDonagh and Tailteann Cup teams of the year will also be honoured.”