Five Down players make Tailteann team of the year

Down beat Laois to the Tailteann Cup in Croke Park in 2024

Tailteann Cup winners Down have been rewarded with five places in the competition's 2024 team of the year.

Odhran Murdock, who was man of the match in the Tailteann Cup final victory over Laois in Croke Park in June, is included.

Mourne forward Pat Havern and backs Pierce Laverty, Ryan McEvoy and Daniel Guinness also make the team.

Beaten finalists Laois have four players on the team while beaten semi-finalists Sligo have three compared to Antrim's sole representative, full-back Kavan Keenan.

Limerick and Kildare each have one player on the team.

Down's reward for winning the Tailteann Cup is an automatic place in the All-Ireland series in 2025.

Down are the third winners of the Tailteann Cup, following inaugural winners Westmeath in 2022 and Meath in 2023

GAA President Jarlath Burns congratulated the selected players for playing "an integral part in making the Tailteann Cup stand out".

"In just three years we have seen the Tailteann Cup establish itself in our calendar as a fantastic competition which gives competitive championship football to its competing counties," Burns said.

"Reaching the semi-final showdown at Croke Park is a realistic goal for the many and not the few.

"The entertainment value of those games, and that of the Tailteann Cup final between Down and Laois, was exceptional."

The players will be presented with their awards at a special event in Croke Park on Friday night.

2024 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year: K Roche (Laois): P Laverty (Down), R McEvoy (Down), K Keenan (Antrim), D Guinness (Down), B Byrne (Laois), E Lyons (Sligo); E Rigter (Limerick), O Murdock (Down); M Barry (Laois), D Kirwan (Kildare), S Carrabine (Sligo); N Murphy (Sligo), Evan O'Carroll (Laois), P Havern (Down).