The Bonnington Dublin Hotel was the glittering centre of the Ladies Gaelic Football world on Saturday night, as the 2025 TG4 All-Star Awards, in association with Lidl, celebrated the outstanding performers of a remarkable season.
All-Ireland senior champions Dublin led the way with seven All-Star recipients and the headline individual honour.
Fresh from reclaiming the Brendan Martin Cup in August, the Sky Blues were widely expected to feature prominently. They did exactly that, with defenders Jess Tobin, Leah Caffrey and Sinéad Goldrick, midfielder Éilish O’Dowd, and forwards Carla Rowe, Hannah Tyrrell and Kate Sullivan all selected among the 15 best players in the country.
Goldrick’s inclusion was particularly historic: the Dublin stalwart collected her eighth All-Star, extending her reputation as one of the sport’s most enduring elite performers. Rowe, the All-Ireland winning captain, picked up her fifth award, while Caffrey joined her on five.
For Tobin, O’Dowd and Sullivan, there was the joy of a first All-Star after standout campaigns. The trio’s success also capped a memorable night for Na Fianna, with Tyrrell joining clubmates O’Dowd and Caffrey in the team.
Beaten All-Ireland finalists Meath accounted for four places on the team. Goalkeeper Robyn Murray — one of seven first-time winners — was recognised alongside defenders Mary Kate Lynch and Aoibhín Cleary, and forward Niamh Gallogly. Lynch, Cleary and Gallogly all played crucial roles in the Royals’ spirited run to Croke Park, where an emerging group came up just short against Dublin.
Semi-finalists Galway claimed two awards through Kilkerrin-Clonberne duo Nicola Ward and Olivia Divilly, each honoured for a second successive year. They were, remarkably, the only survivors from the 2024 All-Star line-up. Kerry’s leading scorer Síofra O’Shea earned the full-forward spot after a prolific season for the Lidl National League Division 1 champions, while Waterford captain Emma Murray’s selection at midfield ended an 18-year wait for a Déise All-Star.
But the night belonged to Dublin’s Hannah Tyrrell, who was crowned the 2025 TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year. The 35-year-old’s extraordinary season — which included the ZuCar Golden Boot as top scorer across all championship grades and 6-28 in the All-Ireland series — earned her a third career All-Star and the ultimate peer-voted accolade. Tyrrell scored 0-5 in the All-Ireland final victory over Meath before announcing her retirement and subsequently undergoing knee surgery following an injury sustained in that same match.
Tyrrell held off strong challenges from team-mate Kate Sullivan and Galway’s Divilly to claim the top senior award.
There was further celebration across the grades. Tyrone’s Sorcha Gormley claimed the TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year after firing 6-14 en route to guiding the Red Hands to All-Ireland glory and collecting Player of the Match in the final win over Laois. She prevailed over teammate Aoife Horisk and former winner Sarah Dillon of Westmeath.
In the junior ranks, Louth’s Kate Flood secured her second TG4 Junior Players’ Player of the Year award, adding to the honour she first earned in 2018. Her 3-28 tally across the championship underlined her influence, while teammate Céire Nolan and Antrim’s Theresa Mellon were also recognised as nominees.
The evening’s sense of history deepened with the induction of Cork legend Juliet Murphy into the LGFA Hall of Fame. An eight-time All-Ireland senior medallist and six-time All-Star, Murphy’s legacy as a leader of one of Gaelic football’s greatest dynasties was warmly celebrated.
And also with a special presentation to retiring CEO Helen O’Rourke who has led the Association with strength and purpose as president and than as the first CEO.
Image Credit: LGFA and Sportsfile
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