Camogie All-Star Awards: All-Ireland Champions Cork dominate with eight winners

ALL STARS: All-Ireland Champions Cork dominate with eight winners. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

All-Ireland Champions Cork dominated the Camogie All-Star award as eight of their players, along with their former manager Matthew Twomey, were honoured for their performances in 2023.

The winners were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony in Croke Park on Saturday night with the event paying tribute to the outstanding achievements of the country’s top Camogie players following an exhilarating season.

The Senior Camogie All-Ireland Champions Cork claimed a phenomenal eight All Star awards, and amongst the winners was captain Amy O’Connor, Katrina Mackey and Hannah Looney from their forward line, Libby Coppinger, Meabh Cahalane and Laura Treacy from the defensive line, goalkeeper Amy Lee and finally Saoirse McCarthy.

All-Ireland runners-up Waterford picked up three All-Stars, with Vikki Falconer in corner back, Lorraine Bray in midfield and Beth Carton in centre forward.

The Deise’s sharpshooter Beth Carton was also awarded the prestigious PwC GPA Senior Camogie Player of the Year award, as voted by her peers.

Senior semi finalists, Tipperary claimed two awards with Karen Kennedy taking the Number 5 position, alongside the Premier County’s corner forward Cáit Devane.

The last two positions on the team were awarded to Galway’s Róisín Black at Number 4 and 2022 All-Ireland Champions Kilkenny’s Denise Gaule at half forward.

The 2023 PwC Camogie Manager of the Year was Cork’s Matthew Twomey, who in his final game in charge, helped the team claim the All-Ireland title and reinstate themselves as the dominant force in camogie.

Elsewhere Derry’s Aine McAllister, who co-captained the All-Ireland Intermediate winning team, scooped up the GPA Camogie Intermediate Player of the Year, in what was a superb year for the Derry forward.

Ellen Casey of Clare won the coveted GPA Camogie Premier Junior Player of the Year award after the team triumphed over Tipperary in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final in Croke Park.

The recipients of the recently announced 2023 PwC Camogie Soaring Stars also picked up their awards with Derry collecting their eight awards, Meath won four, Clare claimed two awards and one for Tipperary.

Speaking at the event, Camogie Association Uachtarán Hilda Breslin said; “2023 has been an extraordinary year, and we are delighted to pay tribute to the outstanding achievements and exceptional talent of our players.

"Huge congratulations to all our nominees and winners who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment and immense contribution to our wonderful sport.

"We proudly celebrated a record-breaking year for camogie, with over 30,000 ardent supporters in attendance at our All-Ireland Championship Finals in Croke Park. This milestone further amplifies the recognition of our talented players deserve.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed sponsors, PwC, for their steadfast commitment to the awards and for hosting a truly spectacular celebration in honour of our remarkable players.”