The West was most certainly awake at Croke Park on Saturday night, and long into the small hours of Sunday morning, as Galway swept the boards at the PwC Camogie All-Stars. Eight individual awards, the PwC GPA Player of the Year, and the PwC Manager of the Year all made their way across the Shannon, capping a season in which the Tribeswomen reasserted their dominance at the top of the sport.
Aoife Donohue, already one of the defining players of her generation, added a second PwC GPA Player of the Year award to her growing collection, having been the heartbeat of Galway’s All-Ireland triumph and Player of the Match in July’s unforgettable decider. The 32-year-old midfielder also secured her sixth All-Star on a night where Galway’s depth, resilience, and consistency were writ large across the roll of honour.
Cathal Murray, the architect of Galway’s modern golden era, was named PwC Manager of the Year for the third time. His tenure, which began at the tail end of the 2018 National League, has already delivered three All-Ireland senior titles and three National Leagues, along with this season’s inaugural U23A Championship. Accepting his award, Murray reflected on a campaign defined by both renewal and redemption.
“The memories you have from it after the game and walking back into Clarinbridge, they will live for us forever,” said Murray, who guided Galway back to the summit just a year after their agonising final defeat to Cork. That turnaround was achieved despite the absences of former POTY Niamh Kilkenny and key players Niamh Hanniffy, Áine Keane and Niamh McPeake.
“Both teams in the final deserve huge credit. Cork were unbelievable champions and to be a puck of the ball away from winning three-in-a-row shows how good they are. The match itself has got such great recognition and rightly so. It was probably the best game of the four finals this year and to come out on top of a game like that is really special.”
“I’m really lucky to be involved in such a special group… They challenge themselves all the time, they challenge us. We talked this year about making the right decisions coming down the track, having that composure, getting the scores that mattered, and Carrie Dolan led by example with that free in the last minute.”
Galway’s All-Star haul reflected that collective strength. Donohue was joined by Dervla Higgins, nominated for POTY from corner-back and earning her second All-Star, while Shauna Healy’s remarkable post-maternity comeback was rewarded with a fifth. First-time winner Ciara Hickey took the centre-back slot, with further accolades for goalkeeper Sarah Healy (third), Ailish O’Reilly (sixth), and Niamh Mallon (second). Team captain Dolan was selected at centre-forward.
Cork, whose brilliant but ultimately foiled pursuit of a three-in-a-row illuminated the summer, were recognised with five selections. Saoirse McCarthy claimed her fourth All-Star, Ashling Thompson her fifth, Libby Coppinger her third, last year’s Player of the Year Laura Hayes her third, and Amy O’Connor her fourth.
The remaining spots went to beaten semi-finalists: Waterford maestro Beth Carton earned a fifth All-Star at centre-forward, while Tipperary’s inspirational defender Mairéad Eviston was honoured for the first time at wing-back.
As ever, the individual award winners pointed back to the collective. “I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to be part of a brilliant group of players with Galway Camogie and I wouldn’t be up here only for them,” said Donohue.
There was similar humility in the intermediate and premier junior ranks. Offaly’s Grace Teehan and Laois sharpshooter Aimee Collier — winners of the respective PwC GPA Player of the Year awards — dedicated their honours to the teammates who drove their counties to standout seasons.
“This is just the cherry on top after a brilliant year,” Teehan said, while Collier added, “There’s so much talent in our group and this is for them as much as it is for me.”
Image Credit: Camogie Association and Inpho.ie
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