Meath's Geraldine Doherty named Player of the Month

Geraldine Doherty today became the second Meath player in as many months to win the Irish Independent/Lucozade Sport ‘Player of the Month’ award, after Gillian Bennett picked it up in April.

Doherty was voted Player of the Tournament in the inter-provincial football championships more than a week ago when she helped steer Leinster to victory over Ulster in the final.

“I’m absolutely thrilled, it’s brilliant,” said Doherty. “It’s great for Meath as well because I don’t think we’d ever won one of these and now we’ve won two in a row.”

Doherty, a talented forward who picked up an All-Star last year, has continued her impressive form into the 2006 season.

She was part of the Meath team which advanced to the Suzuki National League final recently only to be beaten by reigning champions Cork at Parnell Park.

“We went five points down early on and I think it took us a while to get into the game because none of us had played in a league final before,” said Doherty.

“But once we got going we put it up to Cork and that was encouraging.

“We could have nicked it in the end but unfortunately I think Cork’s extra experience counted and they won.

“It was very disappointing but overall it was a good league for us and we can take a lot of positives from it.”

The St Ultan’s club player, who is also the girlfriend of Meath senior footballer Brian Farrell, hopes the Royals can win a TG4 Leinster title this year.

“Most people are saying we are favourites for Leinster this year, which is strange because we haven’t won it in quite a few years,” she said.

“Dublin are going well again and Kildare should have beaten us in the championship last week so we certainly can’t be complacent.

“It does bring a bit of extra pressure being favourites, but hopefully we can go on and win Leinster.”