O’Donoghue to be honoured at Mayo Sports Stars Awards

The 2026 Western People Mayo Sports Awards banquet, held in association with Coca-Cola/CPS Ballina will be held in Breaffy House Hotel on Friday, November 13, 2026. The evening will include a drinks reception, four-course dinner, awards presentation and entertainment. Tickets are priced at €75 and can be obtained from the Western People by contacting Nicola Lawrence at 086-8293435 or nicola.lawrence@westernpeople.ie.

Gaelic Football: Ryan O'Donoghue

It says plenty about just how good Ryan O’Donoghue was in 2026 that the only reason there was a glimmer of doubt he wouldn’t win the GAA Footballer of the Year was arguably the greatest footballer of all time having a pretty good year himself.

In the era of David Clifford, you have to be beyond exceptional to win it and that’s just what Ryan O’Donoghue was in 2026.

In a year when so many Mayo footballers found a new level, Ryan O’Donoghue was first among equals.

By sheer drive and no little talent, the Belmullet man bent the All-Ireland final to his will. As Willie Sullivan, chairman of his club Belmullet declared after the final: “Ryan O’Donoghue went into that All-Ireland final and just decided it was going to be won and that was that.” It was a performance for the ages. Arguably, given the circumstances, the finest individual display by a Mayo player in modern times.

It wasn’t just his scores or the incredible run that paved the way for Darragh Beirne’s goal but the ferocious intensity and aggression he brought to proceedings, forcing Kerry backwards again and again, setting the tone and leading by example.

And it was a far from isolated display. He was man of the match too in the semi-final. Who can ever forget his defiant two-pointer after the hooter?

He excelled against Cork in the quarter-final and was the driving force behind Mayo’s progress throughout the championship.