Cork clinch six All Star awards

ALL-IRELAND champions Cork continued their dominance of ladies football with six players named on the O’Neills/TG4 All Star team at the CityWest Hotel on Saturday night.

Geraldine O’Flynn, Briege Corkery, Norita Kelly, Juliet Murphy, Nollaig Cleary and Angela Walsh were honoured for the achievements this season with Walsh collecting her fifth consecutive award.

Defeated finalists Dublin received three All Stars – Cliodhna O’Connor, Siobhan McGrath and Sinead Aherne – while Mayo had a similar representation with Noelle Tierney, Martha Carter and the legendary Cora Staunton in the team.

Kildare’s Noelle Earley followed in her father Dermot and her brother Dermot’s footsteps by becoming an All Star while Monaghan forward Ciara McAnespie collected her first All Star 12 years after her mother Brenda.

Meanwhile, Tipperary native Sally Duggan was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame. She was present at the inception of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in the Hayes Hotel, Thurles in 1974 and had a glittering inter-county career winning three All-Irelands, a national league and four provincial titles. Since retiring she has fulfilled many administrative roles at both club and county level.

2009 ALL STARS TEAM: C O’Connor (Dublin), G O’Flynn (Cork), A Walsh (Cork), N Tierney (Mayo), B Corkey (Cork), M Carter (Mayo), S McGrath (Dublin), N Kelly (Cork), J Murphy (Cork), E Byrne (Monaghan), N Cleary (Cork), N Earley (Kildare), S Aherne (Dublin), C Staunton (Mayo), C McAnespie (Monaghan)

YOUNG PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: A Gilroy (St Brigids, Mayo), C Murray (Boardsmill, Meath), N O’Dea (The Banner Ladies, Clare), N McLoughlin (Moyville, Donegal).