Corks magnificent seven

It was a night to remember at the City West on Saturday
when a packed audience waited in anticipation for the announcement
of the 2007 All-Stars. All Ireland winners Cork dominated the 2007
O’Neills/TG4 Ladies Gaelic Football All-Star Awards with seven All
Stars at a gala banquet at the City West Hotel on Saturday last
All-Ireland Champions Cork and Connacht champions Mayo dominated
the nominations for this year’s All-Stars with 16 nominations between
the two senior finalists but it was Cork who picked up the majority
of the honours.

Cork who claimed their third consecutive All Ireland title this
year picked up 7 of the honours on the night with Cork captain Juliet
Murphy collecting her second All Star in three years. Other Cork
All Stars included Angela Walsh, Rena Buckley, Brid Stack, Briege
Corkery, Valerie Mulcahy and Deirdre O’Reilly Mayo, who won the
Suzuki National League Division 1 title earlier this year claimed
just two All Stars with Claire O’Hara and Cora Staunton picking
up awards. Cora Staunton was the Championship’s Golden Boot winner
with 4-46 in six championship games. This was her fifth All Star
Award. The 2007 Championships surprise package Tyrone received one
All Star in the shape of Gemma Begley. Begley scored 7-17 in five
Championship games. Intermediate champions Leitrim picked up one
All Star through half forward Sarah McLaughlin while Wexford, runners-up
in the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup also collected one All Star. Kildare,
Waterford and Laois also picked up a single All Star.

Cumann Peil Gael na mBán also announced that in January 2008 the
Ladies Football All Stars would travel to Dubai to play an exhibition
match. The last Ladies Football All Stars tour was to Singapore
in 2006.

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD was the guest of honour at the prestigious
event which was filmed live for deferred airing on TG4. Entertainment
was provided on the night by Mickey Joe Harte, Frances Black and
the GAA All Stars – Jack O’Shea, Barney Rock and David Beggy who
were a huge hit with the crowd with their unique version of almost
the full Monty.

While Cork had 10 nominations and were delighted to get 7, there
was huge disappointment for Cork keeper Elaine Harte, who had a
terrific year, she made some memorable saves which were vital in
the All-Ireland final and again in the Munster final when the need
was greatest, she brought off two magnificent saves against Waterford.
Maybe her setback could be positive for herself and for Cork. There
were talks of her retirement after her recent wedding, now she could
put that on hold and make one more effort to get that elusive “gong”
that she so richly deserves for her displays since Cork’s great
run began. Captain fantastic Juliet Murphy echoed the sentiments
of the players, stating that she would have gladly traded her award
for Elaine. It was special night for dual star Rena Buckley who
picked up her 2nd award in a week, having won a Camogie All Star
the week before. Nollaig Cleary and Norita Kelly were also nominated,
Nollaig was a former recipient but like Elaine, Norita must wait
at least another year for the prestigious honour T

he Young Players of the Year Awards went to Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh
(Kerry – Munster) Amy Connolly (Dublin – Leinster), Ciara Hegarty
(Donegal – Ulster) and Melissa Coleman (Mayo – Connacht). Helen
O’Rourke, Chief Executive of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association,
said “The All Stars would not be possible but for the contribution
of our sponsors TG4 and O’Neills sportswear. I would like to take
this opportunity to thank most sincerely the Managing Director of
O’Neill’s Tony Towell and an Ceannasai of TG4 Pól O’Gallchóir for
their commitment to the sponsorship of our sport and their continued
support of the Association. The significant increase in the live
televised games on TG4 has heightened the profile of the game and
extended the sport to a wider audience.”

Pol O’Gallchor, Ceannasai TG4, said, “I would like to pay tribute
to those in Cumann Peil Gael na mBan – in particular Uachtarán,
Geraldine Giles and Chief Executive, Helen O’Rourke and all the
staff for their vision, dedication, good humour and friendship.
Our partnership as sponsors and broadcast rights holders has matured
well as we continue to work in tandem to achieve common goals.”
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD presented the awards and he reiterated
his continued support and admiration for the game of Ladies Football
Marty Morrissey was his usual lively self ensuring that everything
ran smoothly and even a power cut for 10 minutes did not faze him
too much

O’Neills/TG4 Ladies Gaelic Football All Star Team 2007 Goalkeeper:
Mary Rose Kelly (Wexford) Left Corner Back: Rebecca Hallahan (Waterford)
Full Back: Angela Walsh (Cork) Right Corner Back: Rena Buckley (Cork)
Left Half Back: Claire O’Hara (Mayo) Centre Half Back: Brid Stack
(Cork) Right Half Back: Briege Corkery (Cork) Midfield: Juliet Murphy
(Cork) Midfield: Brianne Leahy (Kildare) Left Half Forward: Sarah
McLoughlin (Leitrim) Centre Half Forward: Cora Staunton (Mayo) Right
Half Forward: Tracey Lawlor (Laois) Left Corner Forward: Valerie
Mulcahy (Cork) Full Forward: Gemma Begley (Tyrone) Right Corner
Forward: Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork)

All-Ireland glory awaits Inch Rovers and Mourneabbey.

The current strength of Ladies Football in Cork at every level is
graphically illustrated by the fact that 2 Cork Clubs are in the
National finals on Sunday at Senior and Intermediate level. It could
well have been 3 with Ballingeary/Inchigeelagh missing out in extra
time at Munster level to the Junior finalists. The VHI healthcare
finals will be held at St Rynagh’s pitch in Banagher Co Offaly on
Sunday next . The Intermediate final will take place at 1pm between
Mourneabby and Glen of Derry. The Senior final will be contested
between Former Champions Carnacon powered by 6 Mayo Seniors including
Cora Staunton and Inch Rovers the new kids on the block. They will
have in their ranks Cork Seniors, Angela and Ciara Walsh, Amy O’Shea
and Ann Marie Walsh with Annie Walsh and Mairead Kennedy from the
Senior B All-Ireland winning team. However they will be without
Mary O’Connor who picked up a knee injury the week before the All-Ireland
final and is still on the injured list. This has been a huge year
for them, under the guidance of Noel O’Connor, they caused a stir
was defeating the 11 in a row Co Champions Donoughmore with consumate
ease in the Co Semi-Final before going on to inflict a heavy defeat
on St Vals in the Co Final, they got a scare in the Munster final
triumphing by just a point over Southern Gaels but were much too
strong for Errigal Ciaran on their home patch in the All-Ireland
Semi.

No doubt they have the talent and the footballing ability to take
the tile but one wonders have they the experience, but if they can
cope with the big occasion they have very chance of making it a
fairytale ending to what has already been an incredible year for
them.

Mourneabbey look set to triumph.

Mourneabbey on the other hand have been there done that and the
Junior Champions of 2 years ago have a much more mature squad now.
They have strength style and panache and while anything can happen
in a final. You have to take the conditions and the form on the
day into account. They are still a very young team average age just
19 but they have wealth of experience. They have 8 of the successful
Cork Minor team who won the All-Ireland this year and Sile O’Callaghan
one of Corks’ top performers in the Senior B All-Ireland win. One
thing is certain they will be well prepared and well motivated by
Con and Jerry O’Sullivan.

Night at Dogs.

There should be huge crowd at Curraheen Park this Thursday for the
benefit night in aid of Ladies Football. Cork had a tremendous year
on the playing field winning the Senior A Senior B Minor and under
16 All-Ireland titles while the under 14 team B team won the B section
of the All-Ireland blitz. This is always a great night out and with
the success of the past year it is an opportunity for the public
to say thanks to the Ladies for bringing such great honour to Cork.
Thanks too to the sponsors of the 10 races 1 National Profiles.
2 Rochestown Park Hotel 3 O’Connor Coaches 4 Eire Og ladies Football
Club. 5 O’Neill’s Sportswear 6 AIB Bandon 7 Ultimate Fitness 8 Castleland’s
Construction 9 Cashman’s bookmakers 10 Gloria Jeans. Cork ladies
football would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters of
the benefit night

Results Co Under 14 B Final Eire Og 2-4 Inch Rovers 0-6 Under 12B
Mid Cork Cup Naomh Aban 5-15 Nemo Rangers 1-5 Carrigaline 3-7 St
Michaels 2-9 AGM The Agm will be held at the Oriel Hotel in Ballincollig
on Friday November 30th at 7.30pm Fr Liam Kelleher