ERIN O’Hara, Leah Cassidy and Fiadhna Loughran are the toast of Ulster schools’ camogie this week following the announcement of the 2024-25 EOS IT Solutions All-star team at the Universtiy of Ulster Jordanstown campus.
The three have impressed the selectors for the second year in a row to secure their place on a select that is drawn from 13 schools.
Goalkeeper O’Hara is one of six players from Cross & Passion, Ballycastle, with three of the six younger sisters of previous All-star recipients.
Mary McArthur is following in the footsteps of Cassie (2022) and Ceala Dobbin bridges a 10-year gap back to Caitrín, while Marie Laverty has equalled the achievements of two older siblings – Ciara (2020) and Orlagh (2022).
Another north Antrim school, St Killian’s, Garron Tower, pick up four awards, all of them members of the Ruairí Óg, Cushendall club that has been so successful at under-age level in recent years.
Eva McNeill’s older sister Abi was selected two years ago, while the other awards go to Laura Black, Kady McNeill and Amy McAlister.
Leah Cassidy from St Patrick’s, Maghera collected an All-star award last year and later added Ulster senior medals alongside Katie McCloskey and Caoimhe Chambers, who join her in the team this year.
The third double-All-star is Fiadhna Loughran, a member of the Granemore side that won the All-Ireland junior club title last autumn and will contest the Ulster semi-final in a fortnight. She is a student in St Patrick’s, Keady along with Eimear McGeery.
There are no fewer than nine schools in the selection with a single player picking up an award. Amongst those are St Patrick’s, Dungiven, who have picked up their very first All-star through goalie Aoife McAteer.
Staying in the north Derry town, Niamh Nig Uiginn becomes just the second student from Gaelcholáiste Dhoire to catch the eye of the selectors. The first was current Derry senior defender Clíodhna Ní Mhianáin five years ago.
In total there are 24 players named in the squad, with half of them having represented Antrim at under-age level. Six are from Derry clubs, while four come from Armagh with Catherine Moohan from Edendork and Erin Daly from Bredagh completing the panel.
Once again it is hoped that the inter-provincial tournament can be resurrected this year. The inter-pros have not taken place since November 2018 when Ulster won their third title.
The 24 players named will receive their awards at a gala dinner in the Elk restaurant in Toomebridge early in 2025.
EOS IT Solutions Ulster Colleges’ Camogie All-stars 2024-2025
Erin O’Hara, Cara Delaney, Shanna Deery, Mary McArthur, Ceala Dobbin, Marie Laverty (Cross and Passion, Ballycastle)
Laura Black, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill, Amy McAlister (St Killian’s, Garron Tower)
Leah Cassidy, Katie McCloskey, Caoimhe Chambers (St Patrick’s, Maghera)
Fiadhna Loughran, Eimear McGeery (St Patrick’s, Keady)
Catherine Moohan (St Patrick’s, Dungannon)
Paige Bell (St Pius X, Magherafelt)
Grace Draine (St Conor’s, Clady/Kilrea)
Erin Daly (Assumption, Ballynahinch)
Niamh Nig Uiginn (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire)
Jessica McCreesh (Our Lady’s, Newry)
Aimee Ferris (St Genevieve’s, Belfast)
Aoife McAteer (St Patrick’s, Dungiven)
Emma Hart (St Catherine’s, Armagh)
