All-Ireland Intermediate finalists Cork and Down lead the nominations for this year’s Camogie Soaring Stars Awards, sponsored by Liberty Insurance.
The 36 nominees for these awards are drawn from across the Intermediate and Premier Junior grades with awards being presented to the 15 most outstanding players from this year’s Championships. The 15 recipients will be announced at the Camogie All-Stars Awards banquet, sponsored by Liberty Insurance at Citywest Hotel on Saturday November 3rd.
All-Ireland Intermediate champions Cork receive ten nominations. Amongst their nominees are goalkeeper Amy Lee, defenders Sarah Harrington, Leah Weste, Jennifer Barry and Siobhán Hutchinson. Midfielder Katelyn Hickey is joined by forwards Finola Neville, Caitríona Collins, Caroline Sugrue and the All Ireland final player of the match Saoirse McCarthy.
Intermediate runners-up Down receive nine nominations for their superb year. They include goalkeeper Marie McNally and defenders Alannah Savage, Nicole Down, Fionnuala Carr and Dearbhla Magee. Paula Gribben is nominated at midfield along with Sara-Louise Carr, Niamh Mallon and Saoirse Sands in the forwards.
All-Ireland Premier Junior champions Dublin receive three nominations with defender Deirdre Johnstone and forwards Caragh Dawson and Aoife Bugler. Beaten finalists Kerry have two nominations through Niamh Leen and Patrice Diggin.
At Intermediate level Tipperary have three nominations in Sabrina Larkin, Nicola Loughnane and Jenny Grace. Antrim have two nominations through Aileen McManus and Katie McAleese as do Westmeath with Aoife Higgins and Pamela Greville. Derry are represented by Gráinne McNicholl on the list.
At premier Junior level Roscommon have two nominations with Gertie Dowd and Sinéad O’ Brien. Offaly goalkeeper Shannon Touhey and Armagh’s Ciara Donnelly complete the nominations list.
President of the Camogie Association Kathleen Woods congratulated the nominees stating that “Once more this year we will have a Soaring Stars team that celebrates the achievements of our players at Intermediate and Premier Junior level in this year’s Championships. These nominations recognise the skill, commitment and sportsmanship of our players and I congratulate each of the nominees. While Camogie is a team sport it is important to acknowledge at a national level the continued contribution that our players make to our game.”
Speaking on behalf of Liberty Insurance, Deirdre Ashe said: “Congratulations to each of those players who have been nominated for a Soaring Star Award; these nominations recognise the outstanding performances of the players involved in this year’s Intermediate Championship. We’re delighted to share in this celebration of sporting excellence and are looking forward to what’s always a very special occasion on November 3rd.
Our new brand campaign which launched earlier this summer was designed to showcase how the skills gained on the Camogie pitch can be applied off the field. The players that featured in the campaign, no less than the Soaring Star nominees today are role models in their communities whose accomplishments inspire girls and young women to participate and stay involved in sport for years to come”.
The 2018 Camogie All-Stars team will also be announced on the night, as will the Manager of the Year Award. Nominees for the Camogie Association/WGPA Senior, Intermediate and Junior Players' Player of the Year Awards sponsored by Liberty Insurance will be announced next week.
Camogie Soaring Stars Awards 2018 sponsored by Liberty Insurance, nominees list:
Goalkeepers:
Maria McNally (Down), Amy Lee (Cork), Shannon Touhey (Offaly).
Full-Back Line:
Niamh Leen (Kerry), Sarah Harrington (Cork), Sabrina Larkin (Tipperary), Aoife Higgins (Westmeath), Nicole Kelly (Down), Alannah Savage (Down), Leah Weste (Cork).
Half-Back Line:
Aileen McManus (Antrim), Jennifer Barry (Cork), Gertie Dowd (Roscommon), Fionnuala Carr (Down), Siobhán Hutchinson (Cork), Dearbhla Magee (Down), Deirdre Johnstone (Dublin).
Midfield:
Paula Gribben (Down), Nicola Loughnane (Tipperary), Katelyn Hickey (Cork), Gráinne McNicholl (Derry), Patrice Diggin (Kerry).
Half-Forward Line:
Pamela Greville (Westmeath), Caragh Dawson (Dublin), Finola Neville (Cork), Jenny Grace (Tipperary), Katie McAleese (Antrim), Saoirse McCarthy (Cork), Ciara Donnelly (Armagh).
Full-Forward Line:
Aoife Bugler (Dublin), Sara-Louise Carr (Down), Sinéad O’Brien (Roscommon), Caitríona Collins (Cork), Caroline Sugrue (Cork), Niamh Mallon (Down), Saoirse Sands (Down).