Louth GAA goalkeeper, Niall McDonnell, widely tipped to be in the frame for an All Star this year, is already on the awards stage thanks to Fairstone Ireland and Drogheda and District Chamber.
Fairstone and the chamber host a ‘Sporting Heroes’ awards scheme and Niall is the latest winner.
The 27-year-old from the St Fechin’s club was the stand out custodian in the NFL and the All-Ireland series in 2026 and says the team can’t wait to get going for 2027.
“We were disappointed to lose to Mayo in the semi-final, but on reflection, it was some year,” he stated.
Niall put the last second win over Armagh as the number one moment, and personally his performance against Derry was the most satisfying with a number of one-on-one saves.
He acknowledged the contribution and patience of the families of the players this year, stating that it was vital to the success of the team.
“Thanks to Fairstone Ireland and Francis McTaggart, we can honour people who help make this area a great place to live, work and in this instance, play. Niall was outstanding in 2026 and it was a pleasure for Fairstone and the chamber to recognise him,” chamber CEO, Hubert Murphy, stated.