KERRY LEAD THE way for ladies football All-Star nomineees for 2024 with a third of the long-list hailing from The Kingdom.
The All-Ireland champions have 15 players nominated, by far the most from any side, with the other 30 players spread across eight counties.
Beaten finalists Galway have nine nominees, while eight players on the list hail from Division 1 league champions Armagh.
Dublin have five nominees, Cork have four, while each of Meath, Kildare, Tipperary and Waterford have a single player each included among the list of candidates, which was compiled by the LGFA’s All-Star committee.
Kerry’s 15 nominees include 2023 All-Stars Eilís Lynch, captain Niamh Carmody and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, while Dublin trio Leah Caffrey, Jennifer Dunne and captain Carla Rowe are also nominated once more having won All-Stars last year.
Kerry’s other nominees are goalkeeper and Golden Glove winner Ciara Butler, defenders Ciara Murphy, Kayleigh Cronin, Aishling O’Connell, Aoife Dillane and Deirdre Kearney, midfielders Anna Galvin and Mary O’Connell, and forwards Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Síofra O’Shea, Danielle O’Leary and Emma Dineen.
Galway’s nine nominees are goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower, defenders Kate Geraghty, Sarah Ní Loingsigh, Aoife Ní Cheallaigh, Nicola Ward, midfielder and captain Ailbhe Davoren, and forwards Louise Ward, Olivia Divilly and Róisín Leonard.
All-Ireland semi-finalists Armagh are represented by eight players in the form of goalkeeper Anna Carr, defenders Clodagh McCambridge (captain), Grace Ferguson, Cait Towe and Lauren McConville, midfielder Caroline O’Hanlon and forwards Aoife McCoy and Blaithín Mackin.
For Dublin, Sinéad Goldrick and Caoimhe O’Connor join 2023 All-Stars Caffrey, Dunne and Rowe on the long-list.
Defender Melissa Duggan, midfielder and captain Máire O’Callaghan, and forwards Emma Cleary and Katie Quirke make up the Cork contingent.
The list is completed by Meath’s Emma Duggan, Kildare’s Róisín Byrne (2023 TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year), Aishling Moloney of Tipperary, Waterford star Emma Murray.
The All-Star XV will be announced at a gala banquet at The Bonnington Dublin Hotel on Saturday, 16 November.
2024 TG4 All-Star nominees:
Goalkeeper: Anna Carr (Armagh), Dearbhla Gower (Galway), Ciara Butler (Kerry).
Full-back Line: Grace Ferguson (Armagh), Clodagh McCambridge (Armagh), Melissa Duggan (Cork), Leah Caffrey (Dublin)*, Kate Geraghty (Galway), Sarah Ní Loingsigh (Galway), Kayleigh Cronin (Kerry), Eilís Lynch (Kerry)*, Ciara Murphy (Kerry).
Half-back Line: Lauren McConville (Armagh), Cait Towe (Armagh), Sinéad Goldrick (Dublin), Aoife Ní Cheallaigh (Galway), Nicola Ward (Galway), Aoife Dillane (Kerry), Deirdre Kearney (Kerry), Aishling O’Connell (Kerry), Emma Murray (Waterford).
Midfield: Caroline O’Hanlon (Armagh), Máire O’Callaghan (Cork), Jennifer Dunne (Dublin)*, Ailbhe Davoren (Galway) Anna Galvin (Kerry), Mary O’Connell (Kerry).
Half-forward Line: Blaithín Mackin (Armagh), Aoife McCoy (Armagh), Emma Cleary (Cork), Caoimhe O’Connor (Dublin), Olivia Divilly (Galway), Louise Ward (Galway), Niamh Carmody (Kerry)*, Niamh Ní Chonchúir (Kerry), Síofra O’Shea (Kerry).
Full-forward Line: Katie Quirke (Cork), Carla Rowe (Dublin)*, Róisín Leonard (Galway), Emma Dineen (Kerry), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry)*, Danielle O’Leary (Kerry), Róisín Byrne (Kildare), Emma Duggan (Meath), Aishling Moloney (Tipperary).
I would suggest next season that people get to Richmond Park to see Mason Melia in action. He has the potential to reach and play in the premier league. After next season, he will be 18 and I expect a conveyor belt of U.K. clubs will be after his signature. It’s great that players like him are getting to play a couple of seasons in our league before moving over. It adds to the quality and excitement of our league and youngster can enjoy seeing potential future Irish stars playing in the flesh instead of them going over to U.K. and 15/16 and returning in their early 20s with dreams, ambitions and desire to continue playing football broken.
Sensationalist headline. He missed a sitter.
@Michael Carroll: Agree with you Michael, but still good to see him back with Celtic where he can improve his career!!
I know this is a bit off topic but the way the league of Ireland gets treated compared to the Scottish league is mad there is no reason to not have VAR in LOI if it’s in the SPFL and the way Sky Sports treats it don’t even get me started
@ashton oriordan: Ashton, the way it is operated in the SPL wouldn’t endear me to it. Like TMO in rugby, it’s great if operated fairly and correctly .
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: I’m just saying Apart from Celtic and Rangers the LOI and SPFL are the same level and should be treated the same
@ashton oriordan: hearts hibs and and Aberdeen are better than any side in the loi. I love the loi and support it. But there is a bigger gap in quality than you think I believe.
@Mayoforjam: Interesting that you include hearts in this list. In general I agree with you about the difference in standard but I would suggest that there are Loi clubs that could compete with in the top Scottish league in all areas except forwards. Or put another way, a lot of Irish keepers, defenders and midfielders could slot into Scottish club sides. My opinion anyway.
@Bert Carolan: I would agree with that too mostly. I think in the loi there’s a mix of players from national league level being the English 5th tier to league 1/SPFL level. In my opinion though though only 2-4 teams from the loi would be able to compete in the SPFL and I don’t think they’d do well. Derry signed Liam boyce today which is a really good signing, he’s 33 and hasn’t scored a goal for hearts all season. Hearts have a striker who’s a Scotland international and they sit down near the bottom of the league. Boyce will be one of if not the bookies favourite for top scorer this season which says a lot. To finish the loi is improving at good rate though and exciting times ahead for sure!
@Mayoforjam: Very interesting re Boyce, he hasn’t done that well for a couple of seasons (injuries maybe?) so if he does bang them in for Derry it will be a good indicator. But as I say, anyone in the Loi who looks like he might score (especially younger guys) will always leave the league. I thought there were some great games last year in the LOI, hopefully more to come.
@Bert Carolan: Agreed for sure, a goal scorer will always leave because the finances aren’t there to keep him. And yes, some great great games both in the league and in Europe last year. Both rovers and pats were exceptional in Europe last season which is a big sign of improvement for the league. I’ll be at rovers and bohs in the aviva next month and I’m looking forward to an exciting season!