Galway and Dublin dominate the All-Star selection

All-Ireland Champions Galway were represented on
the 2004 team by captain Annette Clarke, forward
Lisa Cohill and defenders Ruth Stevens and Emer
Flaherty in recognition of their outstanding season.
Leinster Champions Dublin also picked up four awards,
with Na Fianna duo Mary Nevin and Bernie Finlay
among the six forwards and goalkeeper Cliodhna O’Connor
and defender Louise Keegan the other recipients.

Ms Helen O’Rourke, CEO of the Ladies Gaelic Football
Association said; “This is the second year we have
honoured the stars of the Ladies game with a banquet
and it is only right that our best players our put
on a pedestal like their male counterparts. Ladies
Football continues to grow from strength to strength
and the younger members of the association need
heroes and stars who they can look up to and aspire
to emulate. This year was particularly tough to
pick an All-Star selection with so many players
having excellent seasons and all 45 nominated tonight
are the best in the land.”

Provincial Young Players Announced

The Provincial Young Player of the Year awards were
also presented on the night. The awards go to the
outstanding player under the age of sixteen in each
province. In Leinster, Fiona Hudson from the Fingallians
club in Dublin was the recipient. Ulster’s winner
was Caitriona McConnell from Donaghmoyne, Monaghan,
the Connacht award went to Therese Marren from Curry
in Sligo while Munster’s winner was Laura Power
from Beara, Co. Cork. All four are exceptionally
talented young stars of the game.

Mick Fitzgerald Enters the Hall of Fame

Galway native Mick Fitzgerald, the most successful
manager in the history of Ladies Football who steered
Kerry to a famous nine in a row entered the Hall
of Fame. Mick, who has been heavily involved in
the administrative side of Ladies Football as a
former President of the Association (1982-85) and
treasurer for 17 years has been involved in Ladies
Football since the establishment of the Association
thirty years ago and has been one of the outstanding
servants to the game.

The 2004 O’Neills/TG4 Ladies Football All-Stars
1. Cliodhna O’Connor (Dublin) 2. Christina Reilly
(Monaghan) 3. Ruth Stevens (Galway) 4. Helena Lohan
(Mayo) 5. Rena Buckley (Cork) 6. Louise Keegan (Dublin)
7. Emer Flaherty (Galway) 8. Annette Clarke (Galway)
9. Claire Egan (Mayo) 10. Lisa Cohill (Galway) 11.
Bernie Finlay (Dublin) 12. Valerie Mulcahy (Cork)
13. Mary Nevin (Dublin) 14. Geraldine O’Shea (Kerry)
15. Cora Staunton (Mayo)