The AIB GAA Club Player Awards [1] (also referred to as Club All Stars) [2] are awarded annually to the best player in each of the 15 playing positions in Gaelic football following the completion of the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. Additionally, one person is selected as Player of the Year. The ceremony occurs at Croke Park, [3] with the first event having taken place on the evening of Saturday 21 April 2018. [1] [4] The evening involves a banquet. [5] The winning players are selected by members of the media who have an interest in Gaelic games. [2] [6]
The awards were instituted in 2018, having been suggested by the Donegal County Board the previous year. [1] Coman Goggins, Aaron Kernan, Eoin Larkin and Billy Morgan officially launched the first event. [1] AIB (Allied Irish Banks) had, at that time, sponsored the competiton for almost three decades, hence the company's involvement. [1]
Corofin won the first three available All-Ireland Club SFC titles after the awards were established. In those three years, Corofin players won 20 awards, and both Martin Farragher and Liam Silke were included in all three selections. [7]
Team of the Year [2]
Footballer of the Year
Also nominated: Ian Burke (Corofin) & Michael Farragher (Corofin) [2]
Team of the Year [5]
Footballer of the Year
Also nominated: Kevin Cassidy (Gaoth Dobhair) & Gary Sice (Corofin) [5]
Team of the Year [7]
Footballer of the Year
Also nominated: Darryl Branagan (Kilcoo) & Liam Silke (Corofin) [7]
Team of the Year [6]
Footballer of the Year
Also nominated: Ryan Dougan (Glen) & Dara Mullin (Kilmacud Crokes) [6]
Neither of Beggan or Kirwan's clubs won a provincial championship. [10]
Footballer of the Year
Also nominated: Ben O'Carroll (St Brigid's) & Shane Walsh (Kilmacud Crokes) [10] [11]
Team of the Year [13]
Footballer of the Yearnominated: Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes) & Ruairí Canavan (Errigal Ciarán) & Con O'Callaghan (Cuala)
The new GAA initiative has reviewed the outstanding performances at provincial and All-Ireland level in the AIB Club Championships with a cross-section of GAA media voting on a final 15.