Armagh Trio Secure Ladies Football All-Stars

Three players from Armagh have been awarded their inaugural Ladies Football All-Stars following an impressive season for the Orchard county. Defenders Grace Ferguson and Lauren McConville, along with forward Aoife McCoy, received recognition for their contributions to Armagh’s National League Division One championship victory and their progression to the All-Ireland semi-finals. Armagh had received eight nominations in total, but Anna Carr, Clodagh McCambridge, Cait Towe, Caroline O’Hanlon, and Blaithin Mackin were not selected for the final 15. All-Ireland champions Kerry led the All-Stars selections with seven players: goalkeeper Ciara Butler, defenders Kayleigh Cronin and Aishling O’Connell, midfielder Anna Galvin, and the forward trio of Niamh Carmody, Danielle O’Leary, and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh. Galway, the defeated All-Ireland finalists, secured four All-Stars—Kate Geraghty, Nicola Ward, Ailbhe Davoren, and Olivia Divilly—while Cork’s Katie Quirke was included at full-forward. Galway defender Nicola Ward also earned the player of the year award, prevailing over Kerry’s Kayleigh Cronin and Armagh captain Lauren McConville. Michelle Guckian of Leitrim was named intermediate player of the year, and Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth claimed the junior award. The full list of the 2024 Ladies Football All-Stars is as follows: Ciara Butler (Kerry); Grace Ferguson (Armagh), Kayleigh Cronin (Kerry), Kate Geraghty (Galway); Aishling O’Connell (Kerry), Nicola Ward (Galway), Lauren McConville (Armagh); Anna Galvin (Kerry), Ailbhe Davoren (Galway); Niamh Carmody (Kerry), Aoife McCoy (Armagh), Olivia Divilly (Galway); Danielle O’Leary (Kerry), Katie Quirke (Cork), Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry).