The National Football League isn’t always about brand new names bursting onto the scene.
Sometimes, it’s about players we already knew were good, the ones who had shown flashes, who were important within their own counties but are now stepping up and forcing themselves into a wider conversation.
This spring felt full of those types.
Players who didn’t arrive out of nowhere, but left the league looking like central figures, the kind you now have to plan for. The lads who have gone from “very good player” to “a proper problem”.
Here are five who took that step.
### **Colm O’Callaghan (Cork)**
Colm O’Callaghan has been an important player for Cork since he broke through from the 2019 U20 All-Ireland winning side, but this promotion campaign, him and his veteran midfield partner Ian Maguire were incredibly solid for John Cleary's side.
His physical presence around midfield has always been there, but this year he has added scores to his game notching 2-10 from play as Cork made the return to Division 1 after a 10 year absence. A towering presence at midfield, the Éire Óg man is a serious weapon around the middle and has played a key part in the Rebels revival.
### **Conor O’Donnell (Donegal)**
Conor O'Donnell had an excellent 2025 and was incredibly unfortunate to find himself without an All-Star as he was a key part in Donegal's run to the All-Ireland final.
This spring he has gone to another level, in a setup with plenty of star names, he doesn't just blend in, he stands out. His direct running, work rate and ability to get important scores gives Donegal another layer. His impressive tally of 4-14 from play shows that he is a player who can stand you up and kick a point or fly by you for a goal, a defender's nightmare.
He’s no longer a promising option, he’s a key part of how Donegal function.
### **Ruairí Kinsella (Meath)**
Ruairí Kinsella didn’t come from nowhere, he was an important part of Meath's excellent 2025 season but he has definitely stepped it up in 2026.
He's playing with a confidence and sharpness that suggested a player fully comfortable at the highest level, capped off by his man-of-the-match display in the Division 2 final against Cork. He contributed 2-21 from play as Meath got back to Division 1.
Considering his role is probably seen as more of a playmaking one at centre forward, his ability to kick two-pointers and to break the line make him look set to have an even better championship than last year.
### **Darragh Brooks (Wexford)**
Darragh Brooks was already a key figure for Wexford, but this league saw him elevate his game in a way that made him impossible to ignore.
A goalkeeper who offers far more than just shot-stopping, Brooks is a proper scoring weapon. His ability to strike two-pointers from frees saw him rack up an incredible 0-26 across seven games, adding a completely different dimension to Wexford’s play.
That was on top of everything else, commanding his area, producing big saves (including a penalty stop in the league final), and delivering consistently accurate kickouts.
As Wexford surged to promotion under John Hegarty, Brooks wasn’t just part of it, he was central to it.
### **Cian McConville (Armagh)**
Cian McConville has always had the quality you associate with Crossmaglen players, but this felt like the league where he really established himself as a consistent threat for Armagh.
Armagh were hit hard by injuries throughout the campaign, but that opened the door for McConville to step into a more prominent role, and he took it.
He finished with an impressive 1-25 as Armagh secured survival on the final day, showing both composure and reliability when they needed it most.
With Rian O’Neill still absent and injury concerns around Andrew Murnin and Rory Grugan, McConville looks set to be a key figure heading into the championship.
### SEE ALSO: [Pat Spillane Has One Big Kerry Concern After 'Damning' Donegal Defeat](https://www.balls.ie/gaa/pat-spillane-kerry-donegal-worry-652694)
### SEE ALSO: [Wicklow GAA Criticised For April Fool's Joke That Was 'Offensive' To Women's Teams](https://www.balls.ie/gaa/wicklow-april-fools-joke-controversy-652742)