Award Sponsor

Geradline McLaughlin
(2019)

Sharon Courtney
(2018)

Shannon McQuaid
(2017)

Aimee Mackin
(2016)

WHEN you look at some of the players who have won the Ladies Footballer of the Year award in the past, sponsored by Encirc, you start to understand the real quality on show.

The previous winner of the award, following last year’s hiatus, was Termon’s Geradline McLaughlin. Before that it was Sharon Courtney of Donaghmoyne (2018), Shannon McQuaid of St Macartan’s (2017) and Aimee Mackin of Shane O’Neill’s (2016). Not a bad list at all.

No matter who collects the award on March 11 in the Armagh City Hotel, they will be a player of the highest quality given the nominees.

The winner will come from one of the 15 players named on our Ladies Football All-Star team and it’s not surprising that Ulster Senior champions Donaghmoyne have plenty of horses in the race.

Linda Martin is no stranger to the Gaelic Life awards and the brilliant goalkeeper had another super season between the sticks.

Sharon Courtney could be a repeat winner, while fellow half-back and club-mate Hazel Kingham is another powerhouse of a performer.

In midfielder Amanda Finnegan and attackers Cathriona McConnell and Louise Kerley, they have three stars and three players with plenty of winning medals and individual awards already banked at this stage.

Bredagh very nearly took the Ulster crown at the expense of Donaghmoyne, but the Down side eventually lost out after a replay.

They are represented on the team by Aislinn McFarland and Viv McCormack who represented their club with real distinction in the Ulster Club series.

Kinawley were the nearly women of the Ulster Intermediate scene for years, but they finally shook off that tag as they were crowned champions last November after they narrowly defeated Steelstown in the final.

Joanne Doonan and Roisin O’Reilly have been stars not only at club level but at county level too for a long time and in team-mate Eimear Keenan they have another real talent. The Fermanagh players will be right in the mix.

And what’s to be said of Carrick duo Kate Duffy and Sarah Capaldi after Gerry Winters’ team claimed the Ulster Junior title? Two superb players who clocked brilliant seasons.

Steelstown’s Aoife McGeough and Moortown’s Sarah Devlin were also incredible assets as their clubs had outstanding seasons.

Who will be crowned the winner? We’ll find out later this month.