The Seven Leading Contenders To Land Gaelic Football Player Of The Year

And just like that, we are down to the final four teams in the race for the Sam Maguire, and in just a few weeks' time, the 2025 All-Ireland champions will be crowned.

Almost immediately after that, we will be talking about All-Stars, and more importantly, who will win the prestigious Player of the Year award.

Unfortunately, the winner usually belongs to a team that reaches the final, but 2010 Dublin only made the semi-final stages, and Bernard Brogan still managed to nab the award, so we think now is the perfect time to identify some of the leading contenders to date.

In no particular order, here are seven inter-county stars that have lit up the 2025 championship so far.

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It almost feels boring to say this, because it's such an obvious answer, considering that he has won the award twice already, but make no mistake, the Fossa forward has been firing this summer.

There are those who claim that he is underperforming because of his own ridiculously high standards, but the man netted a hat-trick and seven points against Cavan, before pointing another seven against the reigning All-Ireland champions a week later.

In the Munster final, he converted 2-05, but if you look at practically every game that Kerry have won this season, you can bet that there is a fairly large tally next to his name on the scoresheet.

We all knew that Michael Murphy's return was going to propel Donegal to another level, but for him to simply reassume his post as the main man on the team, after a two-year sabbatical, is pretty impressive.

If it isn't one-handed fetches that make PROs giddy with excitement because they know they are going to post an epic slow-mo clip on social media, then it's probably the vital and frequent points that he scores for his team.

Even on the days when it isn't all going his way, like against Monaghan in the quarter-finals, the game still runs through him, and his leadership is so clear to see, so don't be surprised if he ends up with the POTY award by the end of the season.

It's hard not to pick several Meath players for this list, because they have been sensational in the championship so far.

Wins against Dublin, Kerry and Galway prove that they are not a flash in the pan, can muster up one big performance a year, they are serious contenders.

Ciaran Caulfield is the driving force for The Royals at wing half back, and almost runs the game from that position - his energy, fight, determination and never-ending engine have been instrumental in the county's wonderful season so far.

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Although injured for the Dublin game, there is no denying that Michael McKernan has been Tyrone's standout player this season. If he is back fit for the Kerry game and potential final, then he is a serious contender in this race.

The Coalisland native has taken his game to a new level in 2025, as he is a constant threat from the 40m arc, scoring two-pointers with relative ease, always punching holes in the opposition defence, and is absolutely dogged when it comes to getting back and tackling for his team.

McKernan has led Malachy O'Rourke's side from the very first game against Derry in the National League, where he bagged two goals, and the Red Hand county are praying that he makes a return for the semis.

Considering that Armagh are already eliminated from the championship at the quarter-final stages, this is an outside choice to say the least, but Oisin Conaty has been too good to ignore this year.

Last season he picked up the Young Player of the Year award, and he is even better this year, and is so effective going forward, that Kieran McGeeney no longer uses him as a man marker.

In the Ulster final against Donegal, he played like a man possessed, and despite his young age, he has taken on a real leadership role in the team, and it suits him perfectly.

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Sean O'Shea has struggled with injuries this season, but when he has been in the team, he has been firing, and against Armagh he delivered one of the great individual performances in Croke Park.

The Kerry forward kicked an unbelievable 12 points, and was shooting two-pointers for fun as he completely dismantled the reigning champions.

If he can even muster up half of that sort of form in the semi-final and potential final, then he will be a hard man to ignore when it comes to picking POTY.

At 23 years old, Jordan Morris has a healthy balance between youth and experience, but still plays with complete abandonment, which allows him to produce some absolutely brilliant moments of magic.

The silky shooter's best trait is the fact that he never gets disheartened - he could miss three shots in a row, but he is still going for the jugular with his next effort, and his persistence usually pays off.

His 1-03 against Galway in the quarter-finals was epic, and with his confidence at an all-time high, he will pose a serious threat against Donegal in the semis.