Armagh’s Lauren McConville was named Ladies’ Footballer of the Year at Friday night’s 2024 Irish News All-Star Awards.
The Crossmaglen half-back was name the top performer at a glittering ceremony at the ICC Belfast, holding off competition from Orchard team-mates Anna Carr and Clodagh McCambridge and Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth..
McConville is currently in Australia pursuing an AFLW career with Gold Coast Suns but addressed the audience at the awards with a video message.
She is the second Armagh player to win the award after Aimee Mackin collected the prize in 2020, 2021 and 2022
She was part of the Armagh team which won the Lidl National League Division One title for the first time this year after making her 100th appearance in an Orchard jersey in the previous game.
Her father Jim and uncle Oisin have also donned the amber and black of Crossmaglen and orange of Armagh, winning All-Ireland titles at club and county level.
That is certainly the aim for the Armagh ladies in the years to come and no doubt McConville will be a key part of that.
The 29-year-old has been a pivotal part of her team’s success in 2024, both in her defensive duties as a central defender in the spine of her team at number six and also in her attacking capabilities and scoring prowess, which obviously runs in the family.
It’s hard to believe though that just a few years ago, she was playing in the forward line but her move into half-back was key to getting the best out of her.
A supreme defender, she is also involved in many of her team’s attacks, giving the opposition and problem which is tough to solve.
She led many of her sides’ attacks, straight through the heart of the opposition defence, and if she was not laying off that final pass or being an outlet for support, she was popping the ball over the bar or firing to the back of the net.
A player not afraid to take the game by the scruff of the net, showing her leadership qualities, especially when their backs were against the wall