Meath dominates the All-star nominations
Meath Ladies' memorable march to All-Ireland SFC glory has been further rewarded this afternoon with the announcement that 14 of the team have been nominated for All-star awards.
Runners-up Dublin, who had won the four previous senior finals, have nine nominations following a season that also saw the Sky Blues collect the National League Division 1 title.
Cork, who lost out to Meath in the All-Ireland semi-final, have seven players nominated for Allstar awards, while Mayo, defeated by Dublin in the last four, have earned six nominations.
There are three nominees from Donegal, two each from Armagh and Galway, and one apiece from Kerry and Waterford.
Five players, including Meath goalkeeper Monica McGuirk, from the 2019 TG4 Allstar team are nominated for awards - Cork’s Melissa Duggan, Dublin duo Carla Rowe and Lyndsey Davey, and Mayo’s Rachel Kearns.
McGuirk is joined by 13 of her Meath team-mates who stormed to a very first senior title during the course of a history-making season that also saw National League Division 2 glory achieved.
The other Meath nominees are Emma Troy, Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe, Aoibheann Leahy, Aoibhín Cleary, captain Shauna Ennis, Máire O’Shaughnessy, Orlagh Lally, Orla Byrne, Stacey Grimes, Niamh O’Sullivan, TG4 Senior Final Player of the Match Vikki Wall, and Emma Duggan.
From Dublin, Rowe and Davey are joined on the list of nominees by goalkeeper Ciara Trant, Martha Byrne, Leah Caffrey, Orlagh Nolan, Lauren Magee, Jennifer Dunne and Hannah Tyrrell.
Joining Duggan on the list of nominees from Cork are Róisín Phelan, Eimear Meaney, Erika O’Shea, Hannah Looney, Sadhbh O’Leary and Eimear Scally.
Representing Mayo, 2019 All-Star Rachel Kearns is joined by team-mates Saoirse Lally, Tamara O’Connor, Sinéad Cafferky, Sarah Rowe and Shauna Howley, while Donegal have nominations for Evelyn McGinley, Nicole McLaughlin and ace forward Geraldine McLaughlin.
The senior championship’s leading scorer, Aimee Mackin (4-28), has earned a nomination, along with team-mate Lauren McConville, while there’s also a pair of nominations for Galway, with goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower and Olivia Divilly acknowledged.
The list is completed by Katie Murray (Waterford) and Kerry’s Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who scored 3-20 for the Kingdom in the 2021 Championship.
One player will be chosen from the three shortlisted in each of the positions to make up the final selection, with the exception of midfield, where two from six will be chosen.
The 2021 All-star team will be announced at a gala banquet at Dublin’s Bonnington Hotel on Saturday 13th November.
2021 All-star nominations:
Goalkeepers - Monica McGuirk (Meath), Ciara Trant (Dublin), Dearbhla Gower (Galway).
Right corner-back - Emma Troy (Meath), Martha Byrne (Dublin), Saoirse Lally (Mayo).
Full-back - Mary Kate Lynch (Meath), Róisín Phelan (Cork), Evelyn McGinley (Donegal).
Left corner-back - Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Katie Newe (Meath), Eimear Meaney (Cork).
Right half-back - Erika O’Shea (Cork), Tamara O’Connor (Mayo), Aoibheann Leahy (Meath).
Centre-back - Aoibhín Cleary (Meath), Lauren McConville (Armagh), Nicole McLaughlin (Donegal).
Left half-back - Melissa Duggan (Cork), Orlagh Nolan (Dublin), Shauna Ennis (Meath).
Midfield - Lauren Magee (Dublin), Jennifer Dunne (Dublin), Sinéad Cafferky (Mayo), Máire O’Shaughnessy (Meath), Hannah Looney (Cork), Orlagh Lally (Meath).
Right half-forward - Hannah Tyrrell (Dublin), Olivia Divilly (Galway), Orla Byrne (Meath).
Centre-forward - Rachel Kearns (Mayo), Lyndsey Davey (Dublin), Stacey Grimes (Meath).
Left half-forward - Niamh O’Sullivan (Meath), Carla Rowe (Dublin), Sarah Rowe (Mayo).
Right corner-forward - Aimee Mackin (Armagh), Vikki Wall (Meath), Sadhbh O’Leary (Cork).
Full-forward - Emma Duggan (Meath), Shauna Howley (Mayo), Katie Murray (Waterford).
Left corner-forward - Eimear Scally (Cork), Geradline McLaughlin (Donegal), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry).