THIS season’s ladies’ football has seen major strides be taken in terms of Ulster sides this year, with Armagh continuing to demonstrate their dominance at the top of the food chain.
2024 also saw Ulster produce an All-Ireland champion in the shape of Fermanagh, who took home the All-Ireland JFC trophy after beating Louth at Croke Park.
We were close to having another in Tyrone, however they were pipped to the intermediate title by Leitrim, who will be playing at the senior level next year.
Armagh Ladies achieved success at the senior level this year, with the side winning the National League Division One title and getting to the All-Ireland SFC semi-final, losing out to eventual winners Kerry by four points.
Goalkeeper
Anna Carr (Armagh)
Carr’s pedigree as one of the country’s top goalkeepers sees her rewarded with another Irish News Ulster All-Stars award.
She exudes calmness between the posts as the last line of defence for the Orchard County and relishes the opportunity to deny some of the country’s top forwards.
Full-backs
Abigail Temple Asokuh (Donegal)
Temple Asokuh collects her second Irish News All-Star award in a row for her performances for Donegal this championship.
She is still only 18 but displays huge maturity in the heart of the Tir Chonaill defence and coming up against the best-scoring forwards week after week does not faze her.
She is one to watch and inspire young Donegal players for the future.
Clodagh McCambridge (Armagh)
A fourth consecutive Irish News Ulster All-Stars award for the Armagh captain and Clann Eireann player.
McCambridge continues to be one of the most reliable defenders in the country and is rarely put off by having to mark the best forwards.
Her presence settles those around her ensuring her county gets the best from her team-mates as well.
Nothing is ever too much trouble for McCambridge, a real role model on and off the pitch.
Grace Ferguson (Armagh)
Ferguson gets the nod in the corner. Ferguson might be short of stature but punches above her weight and has shown her worth in the orange jersey since establishing herself in the Armagh team in 2020.
She is not afraid to stride forward supporting her team’s attack and with her speed and she is hard to catch.
She certainly does not shirk her defending duties with tenacious tackles as well.
Half-backs
Dearbhla Coleman (Armagh)
Coleman has been colossal for Armagh this year, consistently performing to a high level for the Orchard County.
Another one to play almost every minute of every game, that tells you a lot about Coleman’s contribution to the team.
Her first port of call might be to stop opposition attacks, but she is very much involved in helping to build her own team’s attacks and is also not afraid to pop up in the heart of her forward lines for a score or two.
Lauren McConville (Armagh)
McConville is a joy to watch in this centre half-back position, bringing all her skills and abilities as well as her experience to the top level of the game.
She is a role model for any young aspiring ladies Gaelic footballer – her ‘never-say-die or give-up’ attitude making her stand head and shoulders above many others.
At times when the game can be defensive, she loves to get forward, her driving runs through the heart of the opposition defence causing serious problems and she has an eye for a score too.
She stood out yet again for the Orchard County this year as they won back the Ulster title and although they fell short against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, once more she caught the eye.
Lisa Maguire (Fermanagh)
Maguire has been one of Fermanagh’s outstanding players in this championship.
She might be a veteran in terms of longevity of service to the Erne jersey but she certainly rolled back the years this season under new manager CJ McGourty as they won the All-Ireland junior title.
An exciting wing half-back, Maguire carried out her standard defending duties but also was a vital link between defence and track.
Not content with just linking up with her midfield and forward teammates, Maguire showed she had an eye for a score or two and has popped up with some crucial scores for Fermanagh this championship.
Midfield
Niamh Coleman (Armagh)
Coleman takes one of the two coveted midfield spots on the team. The Clann Eireann club player was a constant in the centre of the Orchard and is good value for a score or two as well.
A player who gives her all, she gets up and down the pitch, offering herself as an outlet and does not shirk from taking on opposition defences.
Aoibhinn McHugh (Tyrone)
The Tyrone captain takes the number nine jersey after another season of stellar championship performances for the Red Hands.
She led by example, helping out her defence, being the link between the stow ‘45s and also more than capable of hitting a score as well.
She battled hard from start to finish in the All-Ireland Intermediate final and was one of Tyrone’s main players on the day during their defeat to Leitrim.
Half forwards
Aoife McCoy (Armagh)
McCoy has had another great season in the Armagh jersey. She very quickly and effectively gets on with it and her value to the team is not underestimated having played all championship minutes for the Orchard County and scoring 3-2 over the provincial and All-Ireland campaigns.
This is her third Irish News All-Stars award – that alone tells you how important a player she is to both her teammates and the Orchard supporters.
Niamh McLaughlin (Donegal)
McLaughlin continues to be a pivotal part of this Donegal team, the work she does both on and off the ball is incredible.
She is cool, calm and composed, her choice of pass, her decision to move forward quickly or hold play up, can instantly change the direction of a game.
Again, she is another of our current players who is a real role model, balancing football with her job as a physio and also making the most of the opportunity to play AFLW with the Gold Coast Suns for another year.
Laoise Duffy (Down)
Duffy has been integral to Down’s superb championship run and form this season. She has played every minute of every game.
The Mourne County returned to the intermediate grade after last year’s All-Ireland junior triumph as they won the Ulster intermediate title and reached the All-Ireland intermediate semi-finals, losing out to finalists Tyrone.
As a wing half-forward, she knows where the posts are and is a consistent score-getter for her county but she also knows how to track back and help out her defence.
Full forwards
Blaithin Bogue (Fermanagh)
Bogue can mix it up as a playmaker but also as a score-taker and is a joy to watch when in full flight.
Her athleticism makes her stand out and now as one of the more experienced players on the Erne squad, she has taken on more of a responsibility role for CJ McGourty, bringing on those around her.
Another player who has been snapped up to play Down Under.
Eimear Smyth (Fermanagh)
The LGFA top scorer of the championship, Eimear Smyth cannot be overlooked for a place in this year’s All Star team and she is selected as a full-forward.
Smyth would not look out of place in an inter-county team playing at the senior grade.
She has been in outstanding form this season, her 1-9 in the All-Ireland junior final victory against Louth, seeing her finish with a total of 8-48 for the championship, 39 points ahead of second place.
She is every defender’s nightmare, extremely hard to mark and even when you think she has nowhere to go, she can still get her shot away and score.
Niamh Henderson (Armagh)
It has been a season to remember for Clann Eireann and Armagh’s Niamh Henderson.
After an extended spell away from the inter-county season, Orchard manager Gregory McGonigle coaxed her back.
Since then she has not looked back, with a Division One National League title and a player of the match performance in the Ulster final.
Although she and her teammates will have been disappointed to lose out to eventual All-Ireland champions Kerry in the semi-finals, Henderson has shone.