ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Kilkenny dominate the 2020 camogie All-Stars team with six awards, with star forward Denise Gaule named Senior Players’ Player of the Year.

Like all other All-Star ceremonies across the various Gaelic games codes, this one was held virtually this evening.

And the Cats came up trumps, having put years of final woe behind them to land the O’Duffy Cup for the first time since 2016 just before Christmas.

Runners-up Galway landed two awards, with Tipperary and Cork recognised with three each and a sole Waterford player completing the line-up.

While Gaule — who produced a match-winning performance in the decider win to dethrone the Tribe — scooped the players’ top gong for the second time, Kilkenny boss Brian Dowling was named Manager of the Year.

Alongside Gaule, defensive duo Claire Phelan and Davina Tobin, midfield general Grace Walsh, and fellow attacking duo Miriam Walsh and Anne Dalton were included in the selection.

💫 2020 All-Stars Team 💫

Congratulations to all our winners 🏆#CamogieAllStars2020 | @LibertyIRL pic.twitter.com/QCOtbIT0eA

— Camogie Association (@OfficialCamogie) March 6, 2021

Galway corner back Shauna Healy and corner forward Orlaith McGrath were recognised, alongside Tipperary trio Áine Slattery, Mary Ryan and Karen Kennedy — all receiving their first All-Stars — and Cork contingent Hannah Looney, Chloe Sigerson and Orla Cronin.

Waterford captain Niamh Rockett completes this year’s winning selection, and earns her first All-Star award. 

2020 All-Stars team

Goalkeeper: Áine Slattery (Tipperary) – 1^st Time Winner

Right Corner-Back: Shauna Healy (Galway) – 2^nd Time Winner
Full-Back: Claire Phelan (Kilkenny) – 2^nd Time Winner
Left Corner-Back: Mary Ryan (Tipperary) – 1^st Time Winner

Right Half-Back: Hannah Looney (Cork) – 2^nd Time Winner
Centre Half-Back: Karen Kennedy (Tipperary) – 1^st Time Winner
Left Half-Back: Davina Tobin (Kilkenny) – 1^st Time Winner

Midfield: Chloe Sigerson (Cork) – 2^nd Time Winner
Midfield: Grace Walsh (Kilkenny) – 2^nd Time Winner

Right Half-Forward: Niamh Rockett (Waterford) – 1^st Time Winner
Centre Half-Forward: Orla Cronin (Cork) – 1^st Time Winner
Left Half-Forward: Denise Gaule (Kilkenny) – 4^th Time Winner

Right Corner-Forward: Orlaith McGrath (Galway) – 1^st Time Winner
Full-Forward: Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny) – 2^nd Time Winner
Left Corner-Forward: Anne Dalton (Kilkenny) – 7^th Time Winner

Meanwhile, Niamh Mallon of Down was the recipient of the Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year accolade while Armagh’s Ciara Donnelly took the junior honour. All Players of the Year were voted by their peers, through the WGPA with the awards sponsored by Liberty Insurance.

In the 2020 Soaring Stars Awards, All-Ireland intermediate champions Down dominated the selection with six players included, followed by runners-up Antrim with three, Laois with two, and Meath with one.

Premier Junior champions Armagh receive two Soaring Stars awards, with one heading to finalists and Nancy Murray Cup champions Cavan:

2020 Soaring Stars

Goalkeeper: Aedin Lowry (Laois) – 1^st Time Winner

Right Corner-Back: Claire Coffey (Meath) – 3^rd Time Winner
Full-Back: Dearbhla Magee (Down) – 1^st Time Winner
Left Corner-Back: Chloe Drain (Antrim) – 1^st Time Winner

Right Half-Back: Niamh Donnelly (Antrim) – 1^st Time Winner
Centre Half-Back: Fionnuala Carr (Down) – 5^th Time Winner
Left Half-Back: Clodagh Tynan (Laois) – 1^st Time Winner

Midfield: Roisin O’Keeffe (Cavan) – 1^st Time Winner
Midfield: Paula O’Hagan (Down) – 1^st Time Winner

Right Half-Forward: Leanne Donnelly (Armagh) – 1^st Time Winner
Centre Half-Forward: Sara-Louise Graffin (Down) – 2^nd Time Winner
Left Half-Forward: Maeve Kelly (Antrim) – 1^st Time Winner

Right Corner-Forward: Niamh Mallon (Down) – 5^th Time Winner
Full-Forward: Ciara Donnelly (Armagh) – 2^nd Time Winner
Left Corner-Forward: Sorcha McCartan (Down) – 1^st Time Winner.

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