Top 20 Best GAA Footballers of All Time

Deciding on 20 of the best GAA footballers of all time was no easy task. Over the past 50 years, there have been hundreds of players that have dazzled and impressed on the pitch. In that time, the game has evolved and the officiating has changed, which makes our task even more difficult.

Nevertheless, we here at Novibet want to give you answers. That’s why we put the question to our team to see who deserves recognition as one of the best GAA Footballers. We tried to include a mix of players, such as footballers active over the past 10 years and players who have reached legendary status. We looked beyond just the number of times a player won the All-Ireland Championship and tried to include the individuals who helped change the game.

If you are interested in GAA, make sure you follow Novibet for the latest sports news. Without any further delays, let’s look at the 20 best GAA footballers to play the game. Remember, if you disagree with our list, be sure to let us know!

20. Conor McManus

Our list of the best GAA footballers begins with a Monaghan player, Conor McManus. The left-corner forward began playing for his county in 2007. At the age of 35, McManus is still active in the GAA and has no intention of giving up the sport just yet.

McManus is a record holder for his county, earning him the reputation of being the best player from Monaghan. He is the all-time top scorer for Monaghan in the National Football League. His goal-scoring ability was partially down to his fitness, plus the calmness to be accurate under pressure. One of his best moments came in the penalty shoot-out in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final. Monaghan faced Armagh, and McManus won a free to force the game into a shoot-out. He fired home twice into the top corner to get his side into the semi-finals.

McManus was a successful player for Monaghan, winning seven club titles. However, he did not win an All-Ireland SFC or an NFL title in his career so far. Instead, he has two Ulster titles and three All-Star team selections over the years. Had he been able to win some of the big competitions in Gaelic football, who knows how much higher McManus would be on our list?

• Ulster Titles: 2
• All-Irelands: 0
• NFL: 0
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 55

19. Pádraic Joyce

Pádraic Joyce was a full forward for club Killererin and he played a crucial part in the team’s much-needed rebuild. Killererin had been without a Galway SFC for 21 years, but that changed in 1999 when Joyce helped his side defeat An Cheathrú Rua in a replay. His performances helped the club win three more medals in 2004, 2007, and 2010.

Success at the inter-county level came to Joyce a year into his professional career. He scored the only goal for Galway in the 1998 All-Ireland SFC final. It was an iconic goal as he later explained where the inspiration for the move came from. He said:

“The night before the final, we were sat in the room in the Berkeley Court Hotel and Match of the Day came on. Alan Shearer was going through on goal, Newcastle v Leicester. He feigned to shoot and he went left. Donnellan was sitting across the room from me, with a bottle of tae in one hand, a chicken sandwich in the other and he managed to muster the words out, ‘Oh, you’ll do that tomorrow when I pass it to you and go around the keeper’. The following day, Michael got the ball and passed it in.” – Pádraic Joyce

Joyce finished his career with six Connacht titles, two All-Ireland medals, and three All-Star awards in what proved to be an illustrious career. Players like Joyce are incredibly rare, and he proved that again in 2014. He came out of retirement to help Killererin avoid defeat in a relegation play-off. Few men have shown the dedication of Joyce, and few can rival his ability. There is no doubt he belongs on a list celebrating the best GAA footballers.

• Connacht Titles: 6
• All-Irelands: 2
• NFL: 0
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 66

18. Trevor Giles

Trevor Giles is next on our list of the best Gaelic footballers of all time. The versatile player was a half-forward for Meath and played centre half-back for his club Skryne. He was successful at both levels, winning four Meath Senior Football Championship titles in his club career.

Giles cut short his inter-county career, making professional appearances between 1994 and 2005. It was in 2005 that he removed himself from the selection panel. In the 11 years he played for Meath, Giles won three Leinster titles, two All-Ireland SFC victories, and three All-Star awards. He also won the National Football League once, capping off a fantastic career.

Two time Footballer of the Year – achieved either side of a cruciate – Trevor Giles enters our Hall of Fame today pic.twitter.com/ym3QUFQFb6

— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) July 17, 2016

After suffering a serious cruciate knee ligament injury in 1998, many lesser players would have lost confidence in the lengthy time he spent away from the game. But Giles had arguably his best season in 1999. Injuries are a part of the game, but how Giles bounced back was special. Few players in the modern game could replicate what he achieved.

• Leinster Titles: 3
• All-Irelands: 2
• NFL: 1
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 47

17. Kieran McGeeney

Kieran “Geezer” McGeeney started playing Gaelic football in the early 1980s. He played for Mullaghbawn, Cúchullain’s and Na Fianna during his career. Not only did he exceed expectations during his club career, but he achieved a lot playing inter-county football. He played for Armagh between 1992 and 2007 and captained the county to their first and only All-Ireland SFC in 2002.

McGeeney won the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship and Armagh Senior Championship in 1995. Later in his career, he moved to Dublin and won three Dublin Football Championships and a Leinster title. No other player on our list has won titles for different clubs in separate counties.

During his fantastic career with Armagh, he won six Ulster titles between 1999 and 2006. In the same time frame, the “Geezer” won three All-Star awards and one National Football League title. He capped off a fantastic career with an All-Ireland victory, sealing his place in history as one of the best GAA footballers from Armagh.

• Ulster Titles: 6
• All-Irelands: 1
• NFL: 1
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 50+

16. Lee Keegan

Next up we have the best Gaelic footballer to never win the All-Ireland SFC title. Lee Keegan is the highest-scoring defender in football history. We will forever remember Keegan as Mayo’s best-ever footballer, having scored 6-40 in championship games.

He helped Mayo reach seven All-Ireland SFC finals in his career, losing six and drawing one with Dublin. The 2016 All-Ireland Championship Final finished 2-9 to Dublin and 0-15 to Mayo. The replay two weeks later saw Mayo lose by one point with Dublin winning 1-15 compared to Mayo’s 1-14. Although he was on the losing side for every All-Ireland final, Keegan won five All-Star awards during his career. He might not have lifted the trophy, but he was without a doubt one of the best players on the pitch.

Lee Keegan has announced his retirement from Inter County football.
All at Mayo GAA wish Lee the best of luck in his retirement.

Read More Below 🔽🔽https://t.co/i33LJQ1dR2#mayogaa pic.twitter.com/X1twCQX5ZT

— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) January 9, 2023

Keegan retired from inter-county football on January 9, 2023. We can now look at his entire career and say he is the best player to miss an All-Ireland medal. He was not unsuccessful in the GAA, winning seven Connacht titles, one NFL title, and five All-Star awards. Nobody can take away that Keegan was an exceptional footballer, but he falls short of the best GAA footballers of all time.

• Connacht Titles: 7
• All-Irelands: 0
• NFL: 1
• All-Stars: 5
• County Appearances: 67

15. Seán Cavanagh

One of the best GAA footballers of all time was Tyrone legend, Seán Cavanagh. The midfielder made a name for himself thanks to his attack-minded gameplay. His scoring ability often outshined the forwards in his team, proving to many just how dangerous an offensive midfielder can be.

Cavanagh has been a Moy Tír Na nÓg clubman since 2000 and he made his Tyrone debut in 2002. Upon retiring in 2017, Cavanagh has the record for outfield appearances in county championship football. His 89 appearances for Tyrone helped him lift six Ulster titles in his long and successful career.

Before his success as a professional, Cavanagh won the All-Ireland Minor Championship in 2001, and two Ulster Minor Championships. His success continued throughout his career, including memorable moments in the All-Ireland semi-final. Tyrone was trailing Armagh by two points late into the game. Cavanagh went on a gut-busting solo run to bring his team within a point. Tyrone would win the match, inspired by his heroics. This led to his third All-Star award in a row, the first Ulster midfielder to do so since Jack O’Shea in the 80s.

• Ulster Titles: 6
• All-Irelands: 3
• NFL: 2
• All-Stars: 5
• County Appearances: 89

14. Brian Fenton

The 14th-best GAA footballer of all time is Brian Fenton. He is an active player who made his debut for Dublin in 2015. The Raheny clubman has already experienced plenty of success throughout his career. It began with an All-Irelander Under-21 Football Championship victory in 2014.

From there, he won the National Football League and Leinster Senior Football Championship in his first professional season. In the 2015 All-Ireland Final, he was the Man of the Match in the 0-12 to 0-9 victory against Kerry. Looking at his entire career so far, Fenton has nine Leinster titles, five All-Star awards, and seven All-Ireland Championships. He has also won the National Football League four times and made 49 appearances for Dublin since 2015.

Fenton was instrumental in the success of Dublin in recent years. He helped make history by winning five Sam Maguire Cups in a row, the first team to do so. In that run of five Sam Maguires, Fenton spent more time on the field than any other player from Dublin. Fenton played in every minute of the historic six All-Ireland victories in a row. Fenton is one of the best midfielders to play Gaelic football, and Colm O’Rourke’s comments about Fenton epitomise him. He said:

“The best goalkeeper that I have seen, one of the best midfielders ever and statistically the best free-taker that has been to Croke Park. And that is only the beginning. Stephen Cluxton, Brian Fenton, and Dean Rock, but it is some beginning.” – Colm O’Rourke

 

• Leinster Titles: 9
• All-Irelands: 7
• NFL: 4
• All-Stars: 5
• County Appearances: 49

13. Diarmuid Connolly

Sticking with players from recent history, next on our list is Diarmuid Connolly. Compared to other names on our list, Connolly did not immediately thrive as a great footballer. In his childhood, he played hurling, soccer, and football. His first success for the Dublin Minor Team was as a dual player for both hurling and football. He won the 2005 Leinster medal as a hurler, which at the time seemed the more likely career path for the future two-time all-star.

Diarmuid Connolly gives a wonderful pass in to set up a Greg Murphy goal for @StVincentsGAA1 pic.twitter.com/LrbAJkFiks

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 15, 2020

Connolly made his senior football debut in 2007 and was a significant force on the Dublin team that would dominate from the late 2000s to 2017. During his career, Connolly won 11 Leinster titles, seven All-Ireland Championships, and four NFL titles. He was prolific for the team until 2018 when he left Dublin to spend the summer in Boston. After winning the championship with Donegal Boston, he returned to Dublin for the 2019 season, where he won another All-Ireland title. In 2020, Connolly retired from the game, ending a playing career as one of the best GAA footballers and an exceptional centre and wing-forward.

• Leinster Titles: 11
• All-Irelands: 7
• NFL: 4
• All-Stars: 2
• County Appearances: 54

12. Séamus Moynihan

After talking about some Dublin legends, it only feels right that next is Séamus Moynihan from Kerry. Moynihan is another player who did not immediately settle into professional life in Gaelic football. He made his debut at 18 in 1992 in the Munster Final. However, it ended in defeat, with Kerry losing to Clare 2-10 to 0-12.

In the early years of his career, Moynihan spent time as a half-forward, midfielder, and half-back before settling in as a centre-back. Once settled into a position, Moynihan excelled as a leader and important figure in the Kerry dressing room. He played in 12 Munster Finals in his career, winning eight times and only losing on four occasions. He had six All-Ireland Senior Final appearances, four of them resulting in a victory.

Look at some superb football from @Kerry_Official from their 2006 All-Ireland Football Final win v Mayo! Superb catch from Tommy Griffin, Seán O'Sullivan feeding the ball to Séamus Moynihan, long ball into Colm Cooper, a 1-2 between Declan O'Sullivan and Kieran Donaghy, and GOAL! pic.twitter.com/xpaoxj1zLz

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 21, 2022

If we are celebrating the best GAA footballers, you must look at the players who did the dirty work. It takes a well-focused team to win titles, and part of that comes from players like Moynihan.

• Munster Titles: 8
• All-Irelands: 4
• NFL: 0
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 61

11. Páidi Ó Sé

No list of the best GAA footballers is complete without paying tribute to the true legends of the game. Páidi Ó Sé is one of the greatest defenders of all time. He played 15 seasons of professional football for Kerry between 1974 to 1988. He enjoyed a long and successful career, starting as a teenager.

At 14, he joined the An Ghaeltacht senior team and made his inter-county debut at 16. Ó Sé made his professional debut in 1974 while still playing in the minor leagues. In 1975 and 76 he won two consecutive All-Ireland medals, followed by a run of four championships in a row between 1978 and 1981. He had another winning streak in his career, including three championships from 1984 to 86.

Ó Sé finished his career with 11 Munster titles, eight All-Ireland victories, four NFL titles, and five All-Star selections. Looking at what he did on the field, Ó Sé was a leader throughout his lengthy career. This helped him become a manager where he was instrumental in developing the career of his three nephews, Marc, Darragh, and Tomás. While many of us might not have seen Ó Sé play in person, his impact on Gaelic football is indisputable.

• Munster Titles: 11
• All-Irelands: 8
• NFL: 4
• All-Stars: 5
• County Appearances: 53

10. Marc Ó Sé

Another Ó Sé with a legendary status is Marc Ó Sé. Like his uncle Páidi, Marc played for Kerry and An Ghaeltacht until 2018. He joined An Ghaeltacht in 1997 and had to wait until 2002 for his first professional appearance. Marc impressed in his first few seasons, but Kerry narrowly missed out on silverware on multiple occasions.

The year 2004 was the start of what proved to be a successful career for Ó Sé, beating Galway to a National League title. His ball control and skill were clear for all to see, and his brother Tomás took some of the spotlight by winning the Player of the Year award. Ó Sé shined in 2006 in what proved to be a challenging time for Kerry. He led his team with fine goal-scoring form in the most important games, winning the All-Star award in 2006.

This was only the beginning for Ó Sé, who ended his career with a variety of awards and achievements. He won ten Munster titles and five All-Ireland Senior Football Championships. Plus, he won the National Football League three times, the same number of times he made it onto the All-Star team.

• Munster Titles: 10
• All-Irelands: 5
• NFL: 3
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 88

9. Pat Spillane

The ninth-best GAA footballer of all time is Pat Spillane. While many of us will know Spillane thanks to his punditry, he is one of the best GAA players ever. Like many other footballers, Spillane comes from a strong Gaelic sports background. His father and several uncles all won medals with Kerry in the 40s and 50s.

At the age of 16, he made his inter-county debut for the Kerry minor team. For the under-21 Kerry team, he won back-to-back All-Ireland medals in 1975 and 76. Spillane won eight All-Ireland medals professionally, four came consecutively in the late 70s. He was a crucial part of the Kerry team that won three back-to-back medals in the mid-1980s. Spillane was Footballer of the Year twice, once in 1978 and then again eight years later in 1986.

Spillane became a fan favourite after fighting back from a cruciate ligament injury that threatened his career. He was in the Gaelic Football Team of the Century in 1984 and the Millennium Team in 1999. He is a nine-time All-Star winner who rightfully deserves a spot on the list of best GAA footballers.

• Munster Titles: 12
• All-Irelands: 8
• NFL: 2
• All-Stars: 9
• County Appearances: 56

8. David Clifford

After talking about a lot of players who finished their careers in the 90s, it only feels appropriate to mention a player still playing the game. Not only is David Clifford a four-time All-Star, but he is only 24 years old. That means we could expect to see a lot more success from this young man.

Clifford is a clubman for Fossa and East Kerry. He made his professional debut in 2018 for Kerry during the National Football League. It did not take long for Clifford to experience success at the junior level, and that success has already followed him into his professional career. In his short but impressive career, he has five Munster titles, three NFL medals, and four All-Star awards. Clifford played a crucial role in the All-Ireland victory in 2022, Kerry’s first win since 2014.

While many will argue against an inexperienced player making it into the list of the greatest Gaelic footballers ever, there is more than a strong enough case for Clifford. For starters, being able to watch him play every week adds a lot of prestige when compared to players from 30 years ago. Plus, given what the young man has already achieved, it is likely that he will always end up on the list of best GAA footballers.

• Munster Titles: 5
• All-Irelands: 1
• NFL: 3
• All-Stars: 4
• County Appearances: 29

7. Michael Fitzsimons

Now that we are approaching the top end of our list, we can examine some truly exceptional footballers. Michael Fitzsimons is a corner-back for Dublin and Cuala. He is alongside Stephen Cluxton and James McCarthy as the most decorated inter-county Gaelic footballer of all time.

Looking at his junior career, Cuala is better known as a hurling team rather than football. He was the second player from the club to play inter-county football. In 2008, he won the Junior All-Ireland and Leinster Football Championships. Fitzsimons made his professional debut in 2010 and won the Leinster Senior Football Championship in 2011. He then won the All-Ireland Senior Championship a few months later against Kerry.

#GAA news: @DubGAAOfficial Michael Fitzsimons voted https://t.co/gvXdqgOuf0 Footballer of the Week

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 1, 2023

In Fitzsimons’ career, he accumulated a lot of silverware. He finished with 13 Leinster titles, three All-Star Awards, and five NFL medals. He is tied with two other players for the most All-Ireland victories of all time.

• Leinster Titles: 13
• All-Irelands: 9
• NFL: 5
• All-Stars: 3
• County Appearances: 22

6. James McCarthy

Next up is James McCarthy, another Dublin player who has been a joy to watch over the past decade. McCarthy joined Ballymun Kickhams before making his senior debut in 2010. He is another player with famous connections to the sport. His father John McCarthy won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship three times with Dublin.

McCarthy started strongly in his junior career, winning the Leinster and All-Ireland Under-21 Championship. He has been prolific in his senior career, helping Dublin win the Leinster Senior Football Championship every year. Plus, McCarthy has enjoyed a near-identical level of success with the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He won the title on nine separate occasions.

Well Done to James McCarthy, Colm Basquel, and Cormac Costello who have all been named in the GAA Football Team of the Week!👕🏐#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/inmxmVmdxb

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 3, 2023

While McCarthy has been around for a while, there have been other characters in Dublin that have perhaps taken the spotlight away from him. However, in 2023 he proved to us all that he is one of the best GAA footballers ever.

• Leinster Titles: 13
• All-Irelands: 9
• NFL: 5
• All-Stars: 4
• County Appearances: 22

5. Bernard Brogan Jr

The fifth-best GAA footballer is Bernard Brogan Jr. He is yet another player with a famous family connected to Gaelic football. His father was an All-Ireland winner and his brothers, Alan and Paul, also played for Dublin. Even his uncle Jim Brogan played inter-county football for Dublin.

The left corner forward joined St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh in 2003 and he did not have to wait long for silverware. Brogan won the Sigerson Cup in 2006 and shone for Dublin in 2007. The next year, he made history with St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh, helping them win their first league title. In 2011, he helped Dublin win the All-Ireland Championship, the first victory for the county since 1995.

Brogan Jr was a prolific scorer for Dublin. He sits third on their all-time scoring list with 36 goals and 344 points. Dean Rock and Jimmy Keaveney are the only Dublin players with more points or goals scored. With 13 Leinster titles, seven All-Ireland victories, and four All-Star awards, Brogan Jr is one of the best GAA footballers ever.

• Leinster Titles: 13
• All-Irelands: 7
• NFL: 5
• All-Stars: 4
• County Appearances: 58

4. Jack O’Shea

Next up is another legendary Gaelic footballer who played senior football with Kerry until 1992. Jack O’Shea joined the senior team in 1976, but he played an integral role in the under-21 side until 1978. During that time, he helped Dublin win four consecutive Munster titles and three All-Ireland Under-21 Victories.

O’Shea was vital to Kerry’s dominance in the late 70s and early 80s. He won seven All-Ireland Senior Football Championships in his career. That includes four back-to-back and another streak of three consecutive wins. He helped Kerry dominate the Munster Senior Football Championship, winning the title nine times in ten years. O’Shea was the Texaco Footballer of the Year four times in the early 80s and accumulated six All-Star awards.

Jack O’Shea – 1985 pic.twitter.com/41wnvP9M6y

— GAA Nostalgia (@gaanostalgia) November 16, 2018

Players like Jack O’Shea were in their prime long before many of us could appreciate the skill on display. Even though most of us never saw O’Shea play in person, we can still appreciate what he achieved. He deserves a spot on any list discussing the best GAA footballers, no matter the timeframe.

• Munster Titles: 10
• All-Irelands: 7
• NFL: 3
• All-Stars: 6
• County Appearances: 53

3. Peter Canavan

The third-best GAA footballer of all time is Peter Canavan. Not only is he one of the most decorated footballers in history, but he helps break up the Dublin and Kerry dominance on our list. Canavan played county football for Tyrone as a forward. It did not take long before he had a reputation for carrying his team. Many believed he was a one-man show, scoring most of Tyrone’s points.

At 23, Canavan was the top scorer in the province, and he earned his first All-Star award. His lethal ability to score points was crucial for Tyrone and proved important for Ireland in the series against Australia. In 2003, Canavan proved his critics wrong by captaining Tyrone to their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. His appearance at the final was even more remarkable, given that he picked up an injury in the game before. That was not the only time in his career that he played through the pain, something that has been lost in the modern-day game.

At the end of his career, Canavan had five Ulster titles, two All-Ireland victories, and two National Football League wins. He also managed six All-Star awards in what proved to be a legendary career. Many amazing players in Gaelic football history led Kerry or Dublin. But, to lead Tyrone to its first two championships deserves special recognition.

• Ulster Titles: 5
• All-Irelands: 2
• NFL: 2
• All-Stars: 6
• County Appearances: 49

2. Colm Cooper

The second-best Gaelic footballer is Colm Cooper. Effectively known as “the Gooch”, Cooper is always in the discussion when talking about the best GAA footballers. He is the best outfielder to play Gaelic football. The Gooch represented Kerry in inter-county football from 2002 to 2017, in a highly successful 15-year career.

Having only retired in 2017, there are plenty of clips out there for you to see just how good Cooper was. In his 85 championship appearances, he scored 23 goals and 283 points. If we include his league appearances, in 145 games he scored 35-447, which is 552 points in total. That leaves him second on the Kerry all-time goal-scoring list.

A look back on Colm Cooper’s remarkable career with Kerry as the star forward hangs up his inter-county boots. #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/TpYkBN1u7Q

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) April 4, 2017

Cooper achieved a lot during his career. He had nine Munster titles, five All-Ireland Senior Football Championships, and four NFL wins. Cooper won eight All-Star awards during his career, leaving him third on the all-time list. If you want to know more about the Gooch, check out the highlights we have linked above.

• Munster Titles: 9
• All-Irelands: 5
• NFL: 4
• All-Stars: 8
• County Appearances: 85

1. Stephen Cluxton

The best Gaelic footballer ever is Stephen Cluxton. While it may seem controversial to give the number one spot to a goalkeeper, in our mind there was no other candidate. Originally, Cluxton played soccer and was not interested in Gaelic football, as he deemed it too rough. Eventually, they persuaded him to give it a go and he began life as a corner-forward and corner-back. The opportunity emerged to fill in as a goalkeeper and he never looked back.

Cluxton made his inter-county debut in 2001, quickly establishing himself as the starting goalkeeper. He, alongside Fitzsimons and McCarthy, holds the record for the most All-Ireland Championship medals. Cluxton is the only Gaelic footballer to captain a team in seven championship titles. Plus, he holds the record for the most Leinster medals, with 17 in his illustrious career.

With 17 Leinster titles, nine All-Ireland Senior Championships, five NFL medals, and six All-Star awards, there was only ever one option for the top spot. Stephen Cluxton is the best Gaelic footballer and goalkeeper to play. If you could build a fantasy team across the ages, there is no doubt that he would be the most selected player.

• Leinster Titles: 17
• All-Irelands: 9
• NFL: 5
• All-Stars: 6
• County Appearances: 112

Best GAA Footballers of All Time Stats

In the table below, we have all the stats for the best Gaelic footballers of all time. You can compare and contrast their achievements to see if we did a good job of ordering the players. If there are players you think deserve to be included, make sure you let us know. We will update this list in the future to make sure it stays as accurate as possible.