A little under three months after winning the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland title, Kilkenny’s team returned to Croke Park on Saturday night to garner eight PwC All-Stars as well as the Pwc GPA Senior Player of the Year for Miriam Walsh and the Manager of the Year award for Brian Dowling.
After her heroics in the semi-final defeat of champions Galway, Aoife Norris was entrusted with the goalie’s jersey and along with the scorer of the match-turning goal in that game, Laura Murphy is a first-time recipient. Fellow defenders, Grace Walsh, and Claire Phelan were honoured a third time.
Julianne Malone marked her return from a three-year hiatus in Australia with her second All-Star, in attack, with Denise Gaule earning her sixth, the dynamic Katie Nolan a second, and Miriam Walsh, like her cousin Grace, a third.
Cork were rewarded for their efforts in the final with four places in the team via Libby Coppinger, debutant Saoirse McCarthy, Ashling Thompson, and Katrina Mackey, who was winning her sixth award.
Waterford’s feat in reaching a semi-final for the first time in 1959 was marked by nods for Beth Carton and Lorraine Bray. Shauna Healy completely the line-up, the redoubtable Galwegian being listed at corner-back for the fourth year in succession.
“I worked hard this year, arriving at training early, working on my shooting and stuff. It goes to show, if you work hard, it’ll pay off,” said Miriam Walsh the 27-year-old who was bringing the curtain down on a stellar year, deservedly named PwC Senior Player of the Year a week after getting married.
Ciara Mageean was a Guest of Honour at the Awards which were presented by Camogie Association president Hilda Breslin and PWC Managing Partner Feargal O’Rourke.
Carmel and Martin Naughton were also present as sponsors of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship and there was entertainment from Mario Rosenstock.
PwC Camogie All-Stars: Aoife Norris (Kilkenny), Libby Coppinger (Cork), Grace Walsh (Kilkenny), Shauna Healy (Galway), Laura Murphy (Kilkenny), Claire Phelan (Kilkenny), Saoirse McCarthy (Cork), Ashling Thompson (Cork), Lorraine Bray (Waterford), Denise Gaule (Kilkenny), Beth Carton (Waterford), Julianne Malone (Kilkenny), Katie Nolan (Kilkenny), Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny), Katrina Mackey (Cork)
PwC Soaring Stars: Áine Graham (Antrim), Ciara Hickey (Galway), Ciara Donohoe (Galway), Ashling Moloney (Cork), Katie Manning (Galway), Lisa Casserly (Galway), Gráinne McNicholl (Derry), Jennifer Hughes (Galway), Emma Laverty (Antrim), Joanne Casey (Cork), Katie Gilchrist (Galway), Aoife Minogue (Meath), Dervla Cosgrove (Antrim), Niamh McPeake (Galway), Lauren Homan (Cork).
PwC GPA Camogie Player of the Year: Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny). Pwc GPA Intermediate POTY: Lisa Casserly (Galway). PwC GPA Premier
Junior POTY: Dervla Cosgrove (Antrim)
PwC Camogie Manager of the Year: Brian Dowling (Kilkenny)
