Race for 2026 ZuCar Golden Boot award reaches boiling point!

THE race for the 2026 ZuCar Golden Boot award has boiled down to a shoot-out between Antrim and Fermanagh stars on TG4 All-Ireland finals day.

Antrim’s Maria O’Neill continues to lead the way, with 2024 winner Eimear Smyth now in second place.

O’Neill’s haul of 3-5 in last Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-final victory over Sligo has moved her on to 11-16 (49 points) in the race for the coveted individual accolade.

In Fermanagh’s TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final victory over Down, Smyth produced a similarly brilliant individual display, registering 1-10.

That’s moved her on to 4-30 (42 points) in the overall rankings, seven adrift of O’Neill and with both players due to play on TG4 All-Ireland finals day for their respective counties.

In third place is Derry’s Annie Ní Lochlainn on 3-28 (37 points) but the Oak Leafers have now exited the All-Ireland Junior Championship.

Fourth-placed Eimear Fitzpatrick (Down) and Emily Lacey (Laois) are also out of contention as their teams have also concluded their campaigns.