Irene Munnelly was honoured for her outstanding performances for Meath with her first Allstar award. Munnelly received her award at the Allstar function in Citywest on Saturday night. At the presentation (from left) were: Pol O Gallchoir (TG4), Ladies GFA President Pat Quill, Irene Munnelly, Irish

Munnelly's number one

Published: Wed 16 Nov 2011, 5:00 PM

St Ultan's Irene Munnelly picked up her first Allstar at Citywest on Saturday night when she was named as the most outstanding goalkeeper in the country at the 2011 O'Neills/TG4 Ladies Football Allstar Awards. Munnelly, who plays at full-back for her club, has been the regular Meath custodian for many years and is widely regarded as the finest goalkeeper in the country. However, a lack of success for Meath on the All-Ireland stage limited Munnelly's chances of winning an Allstar, but all that changed this year with Meath's revival of fortunes. Meath's excellent form in gaining promotion from NFL Div 2 and then their stunning Leinster SFC victory over defending All-Ireland SFC champions Dublin propelled the Royal County and Munnelly back into the national spotlight. Unfortunately Meath's bid for provincial glory was thwarted by a late Laois surge in the Leinster SFC final. Munnelly was a key figure in Meath's spectacular year and her reputation was enhanced in front of the TG4 cameras in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Monaghan when she produced a number of top class saves. However, her efforts were in vain as Meath lost out to the Ulster side. Munnelly also won the Kick Fada competition this year and the Allstar award is a recognition of all her outstanding achievements in the green and gold of Meath. Munnelly was first nominated in 2006 but was unsuccessful. However, her time came on Saturday night. Seneschalstown's Fiona Mahon was also nominated for an Allstar but was unlucky not to be selected as the All-Ireland champions Cork claimed all the half-back berths. All-Ireland SFC winners Cork collected six Allstar awards, while runners-up Monaghan scooped four awards. Leinster SFC champions Laois are represented by Tracey Lawlor and Mary Kirwan on the 2011 team, while Dublin also took home two awards for Elaine Kelly and Sinéad Aherne. For the first time a Player's Player of the Year Award was presented, one in each championship. The senior winner was Juliet Murphy of Cork, the intermediate winner was Áine Tighe of Leitrim, while in the junior championship Lucy Mulhall from Wicklow was judged by her peers to have been the stand out performer. Other awards on the night included the Provincial Young Players of the Year Awards and the awards went to Sarah Rowe (Kimoremoy, Mayo), Michelle Farrell (Colmcilles, Longford), Laura Rogers (Austin Stack, Kerry) and Ciara McDermott (Magheracloone, Monaghan). "The 2011 Allstar night was a fantastic success. We saw some of our top, most consistent players over the last decade receive further recognition of their individual talent and for some they accepted the honour for the first time in their career," said President of the Ladies GFA Pat Quill, 2011 Allstar team - Irene Munnelly (Meath); Gráinne McNally (Monaghan), Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Deirdre O'Reilly (Cork); Briege Corkery (Cork), Bríd Stack (Cork), Geraldine O'Flynn (Cork); Juliet Murphy (Cork), Tracey Lawlor (Laois); Therese McNally (Monaghan), Elaine Kelly (Dublin), Mary Kirwan (Laois); Ciara McAnespie (Monaghan), Rhona Ní Bhuachalla (Cork), Sinéad Aherne (Dublin).