Ulster Ladies pick up 6 All Stars

Ulster picked up a total of 6 Ladies Football All-Stars at the gala banquet at CityWest Hotel on Saturday night.

All-Ireland Champions Cork and Ulster champions Monaghan dominated the nominations for this year’s Ladies Football All-Stars with 20 nominations between the two senior finalists but it was the four in a row champions who collected the most All Stars on the night.

Cork, who have dominated the senior grade over the past four years, deservedly picked up the majority of the honours on the night with new Cork captain Angela Walsh collecting her fourth award to match her four All-Ireland medals.

Monaghan were rewarded for their outstanding displays this year with four All Stars.

Intermediate champions Tipperary picked up one All Star in the form of Edel Hanley while Michaela Downey landed her first award for Down.

Senior counties Mayo and Tyrone also picked up a single All Star on the night.

Cumann Peil Gael na mBán also announced that in January 2008 the Ladies Football All Stars would travel to Dubai to play an exhibition match.  The last Ladies Football All Stars tour was to Singapore in 2006.

Uactaran na hEireann, Mary McAleese was the guest of honour at the prestigious event which was filmed live for deferred airing on TG4.

Entertainment was provided on the night by Brian Kennedy, while Marty Morrissey and Dathi O’Se led proceedings.

The Young Players of the Year Awards went to Dora Gorman (Salthill/Knocknacarra, Galway – Connacht), Alice Malone (Kileen, Laois -Leinster), Aine O’Leary (Cil Min, Cork – Munster) and Jane Ward (Beragh Red Knights, Tyrone – Ulster)

Helen O’Rourke, Chief Executive of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, said “The All Stars would not be possible but for the contribution of our sponsors TG4 and O’Neills. I would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely the Managing Director of O’Neill’s Tony Towell and an Ceannasai TG4 Pól O’Gallchóir for their commitment to the sponsorship of our sport and their continued support of the Association.”

O’Neills/TG4 Ladies Gaelic Football All Star Team 2008: Elaine Harte(Cork); Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Angela Walsh (Cork), Linda Barrett (Cork); Briege Corkery(Cork), Brid Stack (Cork), Neamh Woods (Tyrone); Amanda Casey (Monaghan), Juliet Murphy (Cork); Michela Downey (Down), Niamh Kindlon (Monaghan), Nollaig Cleary(Cork); Edel Hanley (Tipperary), Cora Staunton (Mayo), Edel Byrne (Monaghan).