ANTRIM star Maria O’Neill has claimed the ZuCar Golden Boot award for 2026, the prize on offer for the leading scorer in the TG4 All-Ireland Championships.
O’Neill’s final tally of 11-20 (53 points) saw her finish six points clear of Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth (4-35), who won the award in 2024.
The 22-year-old from the St Ergnat’s Moneyglass club, scored four points, including a dramatic late winner, in last Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship final against Carlow at Croke Park, as the Saffrons claimed the West County Hotel Cup.
That tally was good enough to cement her status at the head of affairs in the race for the ZuCar Golden Boot, as Smyth contributed five points in Fermanagh’s Intermediate final loss to Roscommon.
O’Neill finished second behind Dublin’s Hannah Tyrrell last year, but this time, she’s claimed top spot.
The remainder of the top five is completed by players from Kerry, Derry and Down.Kerry skipper Síofra O’Shea finished in third place, and as the leading scorer in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship. Derry’s Annie Ní Lochlainn claimed fourth place, with Down’s Eimear Fitzpatrick in fifth.
O’Neill will receive her award in the coming weeks, along with the winner of the 2026 ZuCar Golden Glove award, which will acknowledge goalkeeping excellence during the TG4 All-Ireland Championships.
Details on how you can vote for your ZuCar Golden Glove winner will be revealed soon.
ZuCar Golden Boot Top Five
Maria O’Neill (Antrim) 11-20 (53 points)
Eimear Smyth (Fermanagh) 4-35 (47)
Síofra O’Shea (Kerry) 3-30 (39)
Annie Ní Lochlainn (Derry) 3-28 (37)
Eimear Fitzpatrick (Down) 3-26 (35)
