THE dreams of championship silverware so desired at the start ofthe season by Ulster’s counties might not have materialised but nevertheless there were plenty of players who stood out as they put themselves on the line in the hope of chasing down those dreams.
It’s not an easy task to single out players because you always, always unintentionally overlook someone and everyone has a different opinion - which of course they are entitled to.
I’m not here to pick out 40 or 50 players and tell you to choose from them, instead I’ll jot down the names of some players along with a statistic or two, who I feel could well be among your own top achievers.
Throwing out forwards names is always a lot easier than naming defenders, after all they get the plaudits for putting the scores on the board and that is how games are won but what goes on at the other end is equally as important and, just as in the men’s game, the role of goalkeeper is becoming more and more crucial.
Fermanagh have an excellent goalkeeper in Shauna Murphy - one of five players who were nominated for the LGFA’s inaugural ZuCar Golden Glove award, introduced to acknowledge goalkeeping excellence during the 2021 TG4 All-Ireland Championships. Her two penalty saves in the one game against Leitrim earning her that nomination.
In defence, Donegal’s Evelyn McGinley and Nicole McLaughlin and Armagh’s Lauren McConville are all among Allstar nominees to be unveiled next weekend. Orchard County full-back Clodagh McCambridge - arguably one of best full-backs in the province surprisingly missed out on being named in this All-Star team last year - and yet again she has been a pillar in the Armagh defence as they retained their provincial title back in August. Blaithin Mackin has also been an outstanding performer for Ronan Murphy’s Armagh side as too have Sinead Greene for Cavan, Anna Frizelle for Derry and Aine Tubridy for Antrim.
Katy Herron probably had one of her best years in a Donegal jersey between the two 45s while the likes of Cora Courtney continues to be that crucial cog in the midfield for Monaghan. Caroline O’Hanlon (Armagh) is a name that will no doubt be penned many times and rightly so but Derry too have a player who can control a game just as well in Emma Doherty and after missing the league through injury, she brought an extra dimension to the Oak Leaf side.
As I previously mentioned, the names of forwards are so much easier to put out there and Ulster have no shortage of top class forwards across all the grades.
Donegal’s Geraldine McLaughlin has to be one of the best forwards to play the modern game and the absence of an Allstar award for the Termon player still perplexes many. She has yet another nomination for this year and it will be interesting to see if she finally gets her hands on one. She scored 2-22 in Donegal’s All-Ireland championship games while in the Ulster final defeat to Armagh she finished with 1-10.
Last year’s Player of the Year, Aimee Mackin was second overall in the Golden Boot award for top scorers in this year’s All-Ireland Championships. She finished with 4-28 and that was with Armagh bowing out at the quarter-final stages with 3-22 of that total coming in July against Monaghan, Cavan and Mayo in the group stages.
Among the top 10 on that list was Tyrone’s Niamh O’Neill at number with a total of 1-33 for the Red Hands. She proved a real thorn in the heart of opposition defences all championship.
At number seven was Antrim vice-captain Grainne McLaughlin who finished with 3-23 that included 1-5 in the All-Ireland junior final against Wicklow.
The Saffrons were in free-scoring form during the championship with the Cathy Carey (1-24), Taggart sisters Caitlin (4-8) and Aoife (3-5) all showing their natural instinct for scores. Northern Ireland netball star Michelle Magee might have joined up with the Antrim squad late on in the championship but she certainly made her presence felt.
I think too it’s only right to mention the likes of Armagh captain Kelly Mallon, her team-mate Fionnuala McKenna - whose point helped them clinch the Ulster title - Chloe McCaffery and Grainne Rafferty for Tyrone, Derry duo Orla McGeough and Ciara McGurk, Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth, Joanne Donnan, Aisling Maguire, Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin, Monaghan stalwarts Ellen McCarron and Laura McEnaney, Jess Foy, Natasha Ferris and Aoibheann McCarvill for Down.
Everyone will have their opinions and their own reasons - this is your chance to select the most deserving to fill the ladies' football team this year.
