New York Ladies All-Star Nominations
(Eugene Kyne for the Irish Voice)
The nominees for the 2007 Ladies All Stars were announced this week with Kerry/Donegal leading the way with 12 nominations, followed closely by the double winning Cavan side with 11. With the regular season completed recently the Ladies now look forward to a hectic off season with the All star starting 15 announced at the Ladies Dinner dance on November 24th at the Royal Regency in Yonkers. Thirteen of last year’s winners are again nominated but the race will be exceedingly close in all positions. The club season ended with a thundering finish, with the semi final and replay between Kerry/Donegal and Mayo brilliant games followed by the Peter Connaughton Cup final where Rockland defeated Na Fianna another exciting contest. While Cavan jumped into an early lead in the county final against Mayo the second half was tremendous for the encouraging comeback that Mayo staged as well as the final victory that Cavan achieved. What this created however was a difficult task to narrow down the possible candidates to 45. They are the following.
Goal-Keeper: 3 nominees.
Nora McGrail (Mayo) Tina Dengler (Kerry-Donegal) Jeanine Heinsohn (Na Fianna)
Backs: 18 nominees.
Mary Maguire, Alison Traynor, Aimee Gomez, Roisin Clarke, (Cavan) Katrina Lynch (Na Fianna) Imelda Mullarkey, Ashley Brophy, Louise McMahon, Joanne Monaghan, Ger Roche (Mayo), Una Burke, Aoife Gibson, Colette McElligott, Shuvaun Neville, (Kerry/Donegal), Kerry-Ann Galvin (Rockland) Claire McElroy, Tracey Anne McCullagh, Pamela McNally (Fermanagh)
Midfield: 6 nominees.
Linda McKeon, Justine Clifford (Cavan), Katrina Coyle (Fermanagh), Mary Cooney, Michelle McVann (Kerry/Donegal), Kelly Roche (Mayo).
Forwards: 18 nominees.
Rosie O’Reilly, Ciara Moore, Nuala Carroll, Kelly McArdle, Emma Clarke (Cavan), Caroline Murphy, Nicola King (Fermanagh), Joanne McKenna, Mary O’Rourke (Mayo) Denise Dunnion, Sue Bennett, Aisling McCabe, Anita McKenna, Benny Tuohey( Kerry/Donegal), Marie Melly, Jeanine Rynne, Ger Lavery (Na Fianna) Jenny Kirby (Rockland). Last Year’s All-Star Team 1) Tina Dengler (Kerry/Donegal) 2) Aoife Gibson (Kerry/Donegal) 3) Mary Maguire (Cavan) 4) Nicola Rogan (Cavan) 5) Shuvaun Neville (Kerry/Donegal) 6) Mary Cooney (Kerry/Donegal) 7) Allison Traynor (Cavan) 8) Justine Clifford (Cavan) 9) Anita McKenna (Kerry/Donegal) 10) Rosie O’Reilly (Cavan) 11) Mary O’Rourke (Mayo) 12) Nuala Carroll (Cavan) 13) Denise Dunnion (Kerry/Donegal) 14) Emma Clarke (Cavan) 15) Aisling Doonan (Cavan)
Players of the month for 2007:
April - Katrina Lynch (Na Fianna) May - Sue Bennett (Kerry/Donegal) June - Kelly McArdle (Cavan) July - Emma Clarke (Cavan) August - Joanna McKenna (Mayo)
Player of the Year:
Linda McKeon (Cavan). This year’s recipient is a native of Longford and played for her home county before coming to New York as a sanction player. She is now in her third year in NY and her play in the past season was nothing short of stupendous. With her trademark runs through the center of the field with point, goal or assist to a teammate a certainty a huge percentage of the time. She was also a dominant player at the defensive end. When pressure was on her backline she perpetually helped out. Also a coach at underage level, McKeon has embraced New York and is a deserved winner of the player of the year.
Young Player of the year:
For the first time the Ladies Association has introduced a Young Player of the year award. With close to 40% of the players in the Ladies Championship American born this year, the build with the youth Mantra has certainly been used efficiently and wisely. Players that come to mind immediately as contenders for the award are: Allison Traynor, Aimee Gomez, Roisin Clarke, Kelly McArdle (Cavan), Marie Dunleavy (Fermanagh), Ashley Brophy, Bridget Bennett (Mayo), Ailish Rowley (Rockland). The winner will be announced at the Dinner Dance.
The NY Ladies are deep into preparation for a contest with the Underdogs on November 24th. The game will be played in Gaelic Park with a 2:45pm kick-off.
