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22/10/2026

GAA Museum Hall of Fame 2026

The GAA Museum at Croke Park has announced the induction of six more iconic players into the Hall of Fame for 2026, covering the period 1990 to 1994.

The six players were honoured at a special ceremony at the GAA Museum at Croke Park this week. 

Hurling

Hall of Fame Recipients from left, former Offaly hurler, Joe Dooley, Cian McCarthy, son of late Cork hurler, Teddy McCarthy and former Kilkenny hurler, Liam Fennelly

Joe Dooley (Offaly)

Joe Dooley is one of the outstanding hurlers in Offaly GAA history, enjoying a senior inter-county career that spanned almost two decades from 1982 to 2000. He won three All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships with Offaly in 1985, 1994 and 1998, making him the only Offaly player to win three All-Ireland senior medals. He also won six Leinster Senior Hurling Championships in 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995 and a National Hurling League medal in 1990.

Dooley was particularly influential during Offaly's golden period of the 1990s. His five-point performance against Clare in the 1998 All-Ireland semi-final replay is regarded as one of his finest displays, helping Offaly reach the final. He received an All-Star award for his performances in 1998. Throughout his career, he was renowned for his skill, consistency and ability to perform on the biggest stage, becoming a key figure in one of the most successful eras in Offaly hurling history. At club level, Dooley enjoyed major success with Seir Kieran, winning four Offaly Senior Hurling Championships in 1988, 1995, 1996 and 1998.

After playing, Dooley moved into management, including spells with Tullamore, Toomevara and Offaly, as well as managing Leinster and Ireland's international Hurling/Shinty side.
 

Teddy McCarthy (Cork)

Teddy McCarthy is remembered as one of the greatest dual players in GAA history. Over an 11-year senior inter-county career with Cork, he excelled at both Hurling and Gaelic Football, winning four All-Ireland Senior medals, two in each code. His greatest achievement came in 1990, when he became the first and, to date, only player to win All-Ireland senior titles in both Hurling and Football in the same year. Cork defeated Galway in the Hurling final before overcoming Meath in the Football decider two weeks later. McCarthy played a central role in both victories. He also won seven Munster football titles, three Munster Hurling titles, a National Hurling League title and National Football League title. In 1989, he was named Texaco Footballer of the Year and a Football All-Star.

At club level, McCarthy represented Sarsfields in hurling and Glanmire in Football, while also enjoying success Imokilly, winning two Cork Senior Football Championships in 1984 and 1986. With Glanmire, he won the Cork Intermediate Football Championship in 1987. He later contributed as a coach and selector, helping Sarsfields win their first Cork Senior Hurling Championship in 51 years in 2008.

Liam Fennelly (Kilkenny)

Liam Fennelly was one of Kilkenny’s outstanding hurlers of the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1982, Fennelly won his first National Hurling League medal before helping Kilkenny defeat Offaly in the Leinster final. He went on to win his first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medal that year as Kilkenny defeated Cork in the final. Fennelly enjoyed an exceptional 1983 season. He was appointed Kilkenny captain and led the county to another National League and Leinster Championship victory before captaining them to a second consecutive All-Ireland title against Cork. His performances earned him his first All-Star award.

He won another All-Star in 1985 and helped Kilkenny regain the Leinster title in 1986, also collecting his third National League medal. A fourth Leinster title followed in 1987, when he was again recognised with an All-Star. In 1990, he won his fourth National League medal, before claiming his fifth Leinster title in 1991. In 1992, he captained Kilkenny again, winning a sixth Leinster medal before leading them to victory over Cork in the All-Ireland final. It was his third All-Ireland title. His achievement of lifting both versions of the Liam MacCarthy Cup remains a unique piece of Kilkenny and GAA Hurling history.

Fennelly enjoyed considerable success with his club, Shamrocks Ballyhale, helping them to All-Ireland club glory twice and winning the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship nine times. His achievements were recognised in 2010 when he was selected at full-forward on the Kilkenny 125-year team. His combination of club dominance, inter-county success and captaincy makes him one of the most accomplished hurlers in Kilkenny history.
 

Football

Hall of Fame Recipients from left, former Donegal footballer Martin McHugh, former Derry footballer, Tony Scullion and former Down footballer, James McCartan

James McCartan (Down)

James McCartan enjoyed a distinguished GAA career with Down, establishing himself as one of the county’s outstanding forwards of his generation. He emerged as a precocious talent, winning two Hogan Cup medals with St Colman’s College, Newry, in 1986 and 1988, before helping Down to the All-Ireland Minor title in 1987. At Queen’s University Belfast, he added two Sigerson Cup medals, in 1990 and 1993. McCartan made his Down senior debut in 1990 and quickly became a key figure. He won his first All Star that year and played a starring role in Down’s breakthrough All-Ireland triumph over Meath in 1991, scoring twice in the dramatic Ulster campaign and earning Man of the Match in the final.

He was again central to Down’s 1994 All-Ireland victory over Dublin, earning a second All Star. He also collected two Ulster titles and four Railway Cup medals. At club level, McCartan represented Tullylish and Burren, where he remained a long-serving member and later managed the club. He also had a spell with Tír Chonaill Gaels and won a London Senior Championship medal in 1990. As a manager, he guided Queen’s to Sigerson success in 2007 and later took Down to the 2010 All-Ireland final.
 

Tony Scullion (Derry)

Tony Scullion is regarded as one of the outstanding defenders in Derry GAA history, enjoying a distinguished career in both football and hurling. Scullion did not play minor football for Derry but progressed through the Under-21 ranks before establishing himself at senior level as an outstanding full-back. His greatest achievement came in 1993, when he played a central role in Derry’s first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship triumph over Cork. He had already helped Derry win the Ulster title that year and was instrumental throughout the campaign. He also won an Ulster title in 1987 and three National Football League medals, in 1992, 1995 and 1996. In Hurling, Scullion reached five Derry Senior Hurling Championship finals and an All-Ireland B final.

Scullion’s individual record was exceptional. He won four All Stars, in 1987, 1992, 1993 and 1995, a record for a defender from Ulster. He also enjoyed remarkable success with Ulster in the Railway cup, winning the competition six consecutive times from 1989 to 1995 and captaining the province to victory in 1991. At club level, Scullion was a dual player with Ballinascreen, competing in both football and hurling. He won a Derry Senior Football League title in 1994 and a reserve championship, while also reaching five Derry Senior Hurling Championship finals.
 

Martin McHugh (Donegal)

Martin McHugh is one of the most celebrated footballers in Donegal GAA history, renowned for his skill, pace and scoring ability from centre-forward. He represented Donegal at senior level from 1981 to 1994, establishing himself as a key figure during the county’s rise to the top of Gaelic football. He won three Ulster Senior Football Championship medals, in 1983, 1990 and 1992, along with his first All Star in 1983. He was also part of Donegal’s All-Ireland Under-21 winning side in 1982.

The defining moment of McHugh’s playing career came in 1992, when Donegal defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland final to claim the county’s first Senior Football Championship. McHugh scored three points in the final and was recognised with his second All Star award and the Texaco Footballer of the Year honour. At club level, McHugh enjoyed considerable success with Kilcar, winning four Donegal Senior Football Championship titles in 1980, 1985, 1989 and 1993. He also captained Ulster to Railway Cup success in 1993. After retiring, McHugh moved successfully into management, most notably guiding Cavan to their first Ulster Senior Championship title since 1969 in 1997. He later managed Sligo IT to their first Sigerson Cup in 2002 and became a respected broadcaster and analyst.  
 

 

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