Christina Heffernan honoured by Vodafone and the GAA.

Christina Heffernan honoured by Vodafone and the GAA.

Mayo’s Christina Heffernan ensured that the Vodafone GAA
Ladies Footballer of the year award, would be a family affair
when she accepted the annual trophy at a ceremony in Dublin
on Monday. Christina an inspirational figure on the mayo
team that won the All-Ireland title for the 4th time in
5 years succeeds her sister marcella as the award recipient.
Chistina herself was also a previous winner having been
chosen for the prestigious honour in 1999.

The Heffernan family is steeped in gaelic Games and have
been central to the phenomenal success enjoyed by mayo footballers
in recent years. Christina from the Hollymount club has
been playing for Mayo for the last 12 years and with Marcella
alongside her they have enjoyed unprecedented success in
the last 5 years in particular. Mayo made the senior All-Ireland
breakthrough in 1999 and have been the dominant force in
the game since then, adding three further titles in 2000,
2002 and this year. As well as playing a crucial role in
the mayo attack this year as they made a successful defence
of their title, Christina also showed important leadership
qualities especially when Mayo faced tight situations.

Tipperary’s Eimear McDonnell won the award for camogie.

Speaking at the presentation a the Westin Hotel in Dublin
Vodafone Sponsorship executive, Enda Lynch, said “two of
the most captivating success stories in Irish Sport over
the last 5 years have been those of the Mayo Ladies Footballers
and the Tipperary Camogie team. Christina and Eimear have
played an enormous part in those successes and they are
very deserving winners of the these awards”

Geraldine Giles President of Cumann Peil na mBan who arrived
back from the US earlier in the day after attending a Ladies
Football function in New York, congratulated both girls,
on their awards. Both girls were accompanied by their parents,
members of their families, members of their Co Board and
playing colleagues.