TG4 LGFA ALL-STARS
LOUISE NI MHUIRCHEARTAIGH
SENIOR PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
By Daire Walsh
The third weekend in November was a memorable one for Kerry football as it was saw two of their finest stars across the male and female codes being honoured with top individual prizes.
On Friday, November 17 at the RDS in Ballsbridge on the south side of Dublin, Kingdom ace David Clifford was named Footballer of the Year for the second year running at the PwC All-Star awards. The following evening at The Bonnington Dublin Hotel – located on the far side of the River Liffey, within earshot of Croke Park – Corca Dhuibhne’s Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh made it a double for Kerry as she was the choice of her peers as TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year at the LGFA’s own All Star gala.
Whereas Clifford had to hold off a strong claim from Dublin midfielder Brian Fenton to secure his latest individual award, Ní Mhuircheartaigh was also selected ahead of a Sky Blue centre fielder in the shape of the excellent Jennifer Dunne. Jackies defender Leah Caffrey was another worthy nominee and with so many of those close to her in attendance at The Bonnington, it was a very memorable evening for the secondary school teacher.
“It was very special, having so many from Kerry up there as well. 13 players and our two managers, Darragh [Long] and Declan [Quill]. The whole family were there as well, so it was very special. Player of the Year, it is voted by the players as well. That’s something that would hit you and it’s kind of like a wow thing really,” Ní Mhuircheartaigh said.
“We all know how much of a legend David Clifford is. At such a young age as well and what he’s done, it’s amazing. He’s a real role model down in Kerry and you just love to watch him.”
In addition to Ní Mhuircheartaigh being the first winner of the award from her county – she was also the Kingdom’s maiden nominee in the senior category last year – there was also something quite unique about Kerry at the 2023 TG4 All Stars.
Of their five-strong contingent on the All Star team – Ní Mhuircheartaigh was, of course, one of them – no fewer than three came from the Castleisland Desmonds club. Whereas Lorraine Scanlon and Cáit Lynch were being honoured for a second and third time respectively, Eilís Lynch was picking her first award at right corner-back.
Given she fondly remembers picking up the first of her four All Stars in 2012, Ní Mhuircheartaigh was particular pleased that the latter got her hands on the number two spot in this year’s team.
“That was the year [2012] that we got to our first All-Ireland since 1993. It was a very surreal moment that time as well. We had kind of been coming from nowhere, making semi-finals in ’10 and ’11, and then finally making the breakthrough in 2012 and falling short to Cork.
“I think that night three of us got an award [the aforementioned Cáit Lynch and Sarah Houlihan were the others]. Any time an award comes home to Kerry it’s special.
“It’s unreal for Castleisland. It’s extra special for Eilís getting her first award. When you win your first award, it’s very special and you won’t forget it. It’s very well deserved by Eilis as well and it was very special for her, winning her first one.”
While the Players’ Player of the Year is a tremendous honour for Ní Mhuircheartaigh from an individual perspective, it was an ultimately disappointing end to the 2023 inter-county season from a team point of view. Despite a 1-7 haul from Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Kerry lost out to Dublin in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship decider at Croke Park on August 13.
After taking the positive of reaching the Brendan Martin Cup final in 2022 – where they were defeated by Meath on a scoreline of 3-10 to 1-7 – the Kingdom had their sights set on going a step further 12 months later. It wasn’t to be for Ní Mhuircheartaigh and her team-mates, however, and she admitted it remains a hard loss to take.
That said, with the fixtures for next year’s Lidl National Football League having already been released (Kerry will renew acquaintances with Dublin in the first round of Division 1 on January 21) there is the perfect opportunity for the Kingdom to move forward.
“Last year, it was an achievement by us getting to a final. We hadn’t been there in 10 years. This year it was very, very disappointing. We had a good year up until then and we thought everything was in the right place on the day. We just fell short unfortunately.
“It was a very, very hard time and a tough few weeks after that. It is still tough to think about it, but we’ll get back together now in a few weeks and hopefully right the wrongs next year.
“The sooner we get back to training now the better I think and we can focus on each game then in the league. It will be the same as every other year, every game as it comes and hopefully go one step better next year.”
That game against Dublin after Christmas will see Kerry kick-starting the defence of their Lidl NFL Division 1 crown – a title they garnered courtesy of a 5-11 to 1-10 victory over Galway in GAA HQ last April.
This success bridged a 32-year gap to their last Division 1 final triumph, but Ní Mhuircheartaigh (who first came on the senior panel in 2008) is quick to reiterate that the Brendan Martin Cup remains the holy grail for the Kerry ladies.
“We set out to stay up in Division 1 and then we found ourselves in the position of getting to a final. Playing in Croke Park is every girl and boy’s dream. We made it to the final and we just played really well on the day,” Ní Mhuircheartaigh added.
“Any time you win in Croke Park, it’s special, but any time you can climb the steps of the Hogan is even more special. It was an excellent day for Kerry and a day we won’t forget. Again, Brendan Martin, that’s the main prize is. That’s what we’re looking ahead at for next year hopefully.”