Meath footballer Seán Rafferty is presented with his PwC GAA/GPA All-Star award by (from left) Gaelic Players Association chief executive Tom Parsons, PwC managing partner Enda McDonagh and Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Sean Rafferty wins Meath's first All-Star in 18 years

ALL-STARS

Fergal Lynch

Published: Fri 7 Nov 2025, 10:21 PM

Na Fianna's Sean Rafferty picked up Meath's first All-star since 2007 when he was honoured at tonight's GAA-GPA awards in the RDS Dublin.

Rafferty ended Meath's 18 years barren spell since Stephen Bray was honoured after the Royals reached the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals in '07.

It has been a stellar rise for Rafferty in his first year as a regular starter for Meath under the guidance of Robbie Brennan and the Na Fianna full-back was simply sensational and a deserving winner of the number four shirt on the All-star team.

Seán Rafferty makes his way up to collect his PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Award. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Photo by Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

"It’s kind of hard to sum up. It’s nearly unbelievable when you’re in it," reflected Rafferty a couple of week's after he was nominated for the All-star.

"When you look back and tell yourself you played in a Leinster final or an All-Ireland semi-final, it is mad to think about. This time last year, I hadn’t even made an appearance. Probably no one knew who I was, and now here I am."

Having never played underage for Meath Rafferty featured on the development squad in 2024, but Brennan spotted something in the teak tough, lightning fast defender and took a chance on him.

"You could easily have said no and just gone back to your club. But there was something in me that believed I could play county football. There were definitely moments where I thought, ‘maybe it’s just not meant for me,’ but I stayed at it. Thankfully, it worked out."

After coming on in the first NFL Div 2 game against Cork, Rafferty started the next game against Cavan and as the league progressed he got better and better.

Seán Rafferty with Alanna Reilly at the All-Star Awards. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Photo by Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

In the championship Rafferty looked every inch the seasoned professional as he limited the impact of superstar players like Con O'Callaghan, David Clifford and Shane Walsh during the wins over Dublin, Kerry and Galway.

"When I was told I’d be marking Con, I was nearly excited. You want to see if you’re able. With Clifford, it was surreal, you’re standing beside him going, ‘Right, this is it.’ I tried to stay calm. You know they’re going to do something mad at some point, but you focus on what you can control."

While Rafferty picked up the gong, Ciaran Caulfield, Ruairi Kinsella, Mathew Costello and Jordan Morris unfortunately missed out, but can reflect on superb years for Meath.

Kerry’s status as the Kingdom of Gaelic football was embellished again as the All-Ireland, Munster and League champions dominated the All-Stars with eight slots on the team, and their talisman David Clifford captured a third GAA-GPA Footballer of the Year Award in his stellar career.

Donegal’s teenage star Finnbarr Roarty was voted GAA-GPA Young Footballer of the Year. The 19-year-old Naomh Conaill ace also becomes one of the youngest-ever All-Star award winners, joining exclusive company such as Clifford when he was at the beginning of his senior service, Cork icon and dual star Jimmy Barry Murphy who was just 19 in 1973 and Colm Cooper who was also 19 for his first.

Derry legend Dermot McNicholl was honoured for his Oak Leaf displays as an 18-year-old on the 1984 team, and Kerry’s Maurice Fitzgerald was 18 when he was first honoured in 1988.

The 2025 All-Stars (from left) are: back - Michael Langan of Donegal, Shane Ryan of Kerry, Jason Foley of Kerry, Seán Rafferty of Meath, Gavin White of Kerry, Brian Ó Beaglaíoch of Kerry, Brendan McCole of Donegal, Sean O'Shea of Kerry and Michael Murphy of Donegal; front - Oisín Conaty of Armagh, Sam Mulroy of Louth, David Clifford of Kerry, PwC managing partner Enda McDonagh, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns, Gaelic Players Association chief executive Tom Parsons, Finnbarr Roarty of Donegal, Paudie Clifford of Kerry and Joe O'Connor of Kerry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Photo by Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE

After sweeping the boards on the field, Kerry have the lion’s share of the All-Star spoils picking up eight awards for goalkeeper Shane Ryan, Jason Foley, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Gavin White, Joe O’Connor, Paudie Clifford, Sean O'Shea and David Clifford.

A meeting of GAA correspondents from across print, tv, radio and digital media, chaired by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns, voted on the final 15. The breakdown is Kerry eight, Donegal four and one each for Armagh, Meath and Louth.

2025 Football All-Stars (previous winning years in brackets)

1.Shane Ryan (Kerry) (2022)

2.Brendan McCole (Donegal)

3.Jason Foley (Kerry) (2022)

4.Seán Rafferty (Meath)

5.Brian Ó Beaglaoich (Kerry)

6.Gavin White (Kerry) (2022)

7.Finnbarr Roarty (Donegal)

8.Joe O’Connor (Kerry)

9.Michael Langan (Donegal)

10.Paudie Clifford (Kerry) (2021, 2023, 2024)

11.Seán O’Shea (Kerry) (2019, 2022, 2023)