Antrim star Maria O’Neill with her 2026 ZuCar Golden Boot award and Kerry goalkeeper Mary Ellen Bolger with her 2026 ZuCar Golden Glove award. ZuCar are the LGFA’s official performance partner and sponsor of the All-Ireland U-18 Championships. Photo by David Fitzgerald/SportsfileKERRY goalkeeper Mary Ellen Bolger is the winner of the 2026 ZuCar Golden Glove award.
Mary Ellen’s fine save to deny Galway’s Kate Slevin from close range in the 2026 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship final won the popular vote on the Ladies Gaelic Football Association website.
Mary Ellen, from the Southern Gaels club, was one of five nominees for the prestigious individual honour, along with Grace Amos (London), 2025 winner Helena Cummins (Roscommon), Lauren Fitzpatrick (Tipperary) and Nicole Hanley (Carlow).
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Almost 2,500 votes were submitted for the Golden Glove award and Mary Ellen’s save accounted for 732 votes, just 50 clear of her nearest challenger and 2025 winner, Roscommon’s Helena Cummins.
Mary Ellen was presented with her award at Croke Park today by Ladies Gaelic Football Association CEO, Lyn Savage, and Gavin Hydes, CEO Joe Duffy Group, on behalf of ZuCar, the LGFA’s Official Performance Partner and sponsor of the All-Ireland U-18 Championships.
This is the second time that a Kerry goalkeeper has won the ZuCar Golden Glove award, following success for Mary Ellen’s Kingdom colleague Ciara Butler in 2024.
Following the conclusion of the TG4 All-Ireland Championships, Antrim’s Maria O’Neill was the leading scorer across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior grades and so won the 2026 ZuCar Golden Boot Award.
