Kildare's historic Joe McDonagh Cup winners dominate Team of the Year

October 15, 2025

Laois' Aidan Corby and Rian Boran of Kildare during the Joe McDonagh Cup final at Croke Park ©INPHO/James Crombie

History making Kildare are the dominant presence on the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup team of the year with the Lilywhites claiming a magnificent seven of the coveted slots in recognition of their first ever McDonagh Cup success.

It was a year to savour for Kildare hurling as, one year on from their fifth Christy Ring Cup success, they fought their way to Croke Park and saw off Laois to claim a maiden Joe McDonagh Cup and with it, elevation to the Leinster senior hurling championship for 2026.

Elsewhere, Laois keeper Cathal Dunne has his place well deserved after his miraculous double save in the final.

The Lilywhites take three of the six spots in the backline, with the Boran brothers at the heart of the defence and Simon Leacy slotting in at corner-back. Laois duo Pádraig Delaney and Diarmaid Conway keep their spots on the Team of the Year, with Carlow’s Paul Doyle claiming his second honour since 2018.

Kildare's midfield partnership cannot be separated with James Burke and Cathal McCabe claiming the eight and nine jerseys.

Laois’s Paddy Purcell earns back-to-back Team of the Year honours and lines out on the half forward line alongside teammate Tomás Keyes and Kildare’s David Qualter, the competition’s top scorer.

The high scoring full forward line is made up of Carlow’s Martin Kavanagh and Chris Nolan who racked up a combined 11-55 between them and Kildare's Jack Sheridan who scored 5-7 in the competition with an impressive 1-4 in the final.

The Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the Year will be guests of honour at a gala black-tie event hosted at Croke Park this Friday night which will also honour the Champion 15 team announced yesterday and the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year which will be announced tomorrow. The event will be streamed live by the GAA on YouTube from 7pm.

Joe Mc Donagh Cup Team of the Year:

1. Cathal Dunne (Laois)

2. Paul Doyle (Carlow)

3. Rian Boran (Kildare)

4. Simon Leacy (Kildare)

5. Pádraig Delaney (Laois)

6. Cian Boran (Kildare)

7. Diarmaid Conway (Laois)

8. James Burke (Kildare)

9. Cathal McCabe (Kildare)

10. Paddy Purcell (Laois)

11. Tomás Keyes (Laois)

12. David Qualter (Kildare)

13. Martin Kavanagh (Carlow)

14. Jack Sheridan (Kildare)

15. Chris Nolan (Carlow)