2024 Irish American Football All Stars
After a truly incredible season of Irish American Football, the time has come to recognize some of the best in the game. There are so many insanely talented players in Ireland, with plenty more being developed the whole time. The sport continues to reach new heights and attract new fans, which is exciting to witness and be part of. These All Star Awards were by far the hardest ones to select, which demonstrates the extremely high level of play that took place on the field in 2024. It was very tough to pick just one for each of the categories, but in the end we know we’ve gotten it right! Our categories this year were Offense, Defence, Special Teams, Head Coach and Overall. So, let’s get to it! Here are your 2024 Irish American Football All Stars!
This year’s awards are kindly sponsored by Western Herd Brewery from County Clare. As an independent outlet we’re delighted to team up with a deadly little local business. Each of our All Star recipients will receive a prize courtesy of Western Herd, and you can shop their full range at www.westernherd.com/our-beer-2/
All Star Offense – Arun Mooney
This one was almost always going to be a Quarterback. For a nation of GAA and rugby players, we have several serious ball slingers, chief among them this year’s All Star on Offense. Arun Mooney has led UCD to two Shamrock Bowl victories in three years, and is without a doubt one of the top players around. He was the driving force behind the student’s dominant season, capped off by a flawless performance in the championship game. His stats and performances speak for themselves, and with him at the helm UCD have established themselves as the best team in the country.
Honorable mention: Jake Kennedy
Young Jake Kennedy had a cracking season in his own right, and could well be the best player in the country down the line. In his first season as starting Quarterback for the Cork Admirals, he posted over 1500 yards passing and exceeded 20 total touchdowns. There is a bright future ahead for this Admirals team, and they should challenge for titles in a few years time.
All Star Defense – Martin Mulrey
It’s not often that Middle Linebackers receive the plaudits they deserve, and quite honestly we were going to go in a different direction with this one, until we saw this stat: 85.5 tackles in 9 games, while also playing every snap on the Offensive line. Now that deserves some recognition. Martin has been a stalwart of the Cork Admirals since 2007, and was a core part of their Shamrock Bowl winning team in 2018. The fact he put up those numbers while also playing on the line is a fantastic feat. Congratulations on your All Star award Martin!
Stand Out All Star – Odhran O’Kane
After the year that O’Kane and his Cowboys had, it was hard to look at anyone else for this award. Mr. Sunshine himself tallied 28 total touchdowns this season, acting as the primary weapon for Quarterback Peter Loughran. The dynamic Wide Receiver was practically unstoppable, exploding onto the scene back in March. With the return of the Cowboys to top flight Irish American Football, it’s going to be tremendous fun watching this fella go against the best defenses in the country in 2025. Your Overall Irish American All Star of 2024 – Odhran “Sunshine” O’Kane!
Honourable mention: Tom O’Donovan
The Shamrock Bowl MVP was very much in close running for an All Star nod, and is without question one of, if not the best American football player in Ireland. Whenever he touched the ball this season, good things tended to happen for UCD. He was a force to be reckoned with again in 2024, and will continue to be instrumental to his team’s success for many years to come.
Special Teams All Star – Brendan SImms
Brendan Simms is an athletic freak. End of story. Whether he’s roaming the defensive backfield, catching passes or fielding punts, whenever he gets his hands on the ball, you just know that something electric is about to take place. This is actually the second year running that Brendan Simms has bagged an All Star award for outstanding special teams play, which should tell you everything you need to know about him as a player and team mate. For a side that can sometimes get overlooked despite solid performances, Simms is one of the key contributors keeping it all together. Congratulations again, Brendan!
All Star Coach – Shane Campbell
To lead your team to a national title game in your first season as Head Coach is the mark of a fantastic leader. Despite challenges on and off the field, Shane Campbell guided the Dublin Rebels to their third straight Shamrock Bowl, where they ultimately fell to UCD. Shane has been a stalwart of the club since 2001, winning his first Shamrock Bowl and Rookie of the Year in his first season. In his time with the club, he has played and coached in 12 Shamrock Bowls, winning 8. Shane embodies the spirit of Irish American Football perfectly. He is selfless, dedicated and above all, he’s very sound. In short, he has thoroughly earned the title of All Star Coach for 2024!
