Lidl NFL Teams of the League 2016

  • May 27,2016

Lidl NFL Teams of the League 2016 Named

 

2016 has been a landmark year for Ladies Gaelic Football following the announcement of Lidl as Official Retail Partners to the LGFA and title sponsors of the National Football Leagues. The 2016 League has been a huge success with increased coverage, recognition and attendances throughout the competition. Fittingly there were 4 great finals to bring the League to an end but now, with the action on the field having come to an end, attention turns to the end of campaign awards. The four Lidl NFL Teams of the League have now been revealed and all 60 players will be presented with their awards at Croke Park on June 1st.

 

Cork lead the way on the Lidl National Football League Division 1 selection after claiming their 5th Lidl NFL Division 1 crown in a row. Their impressive goalkeeper, Martina O’Brien is selected along with rising star, Roisín Phelan. Annie Walsh is selected at wing forward following another excellent campaign and is joined by the newest star of Ladies Gaelic Football, Orla Finn, who has been a revelation since taking over the free taking duties from the retired Valerie Mulcahy. Beaten finalists Mayo are rewarded with 2 players on the selection including Fiona McHale and the incomparable Cora Staunton. There are also 2 players represented from Kerry, Galway and Dublin. Neamh Woods is rewarded for another excellent season for Tyrone despite suffering relegation at the end of the year with Armagh and Monaghan also represented by one player each.

 

The Lidl NFL Division 2 Team of the League is also dominated by the newly crowned champions, Donegal, who are represented by 5 players including Treasa Doherty, Ciara Hegarty, Deirdre Foley, team captain Niamh Hegarty and ace attacker Yvonne McMonigle. The defeated finalists, Westmeath are represented by 3 players; Laura Brennan, Fiona Claffey and Johanna Maher whilst Clare also have three representatives; Louise Henchy, Niamh Keane and full forward Niamh O’Dea. Cavan and Sligo complete the Lidl Division 2 Team of the League with 2 players each; Joanne Moore and Aisling Doonan from Cavan and goalkeeper Noelle Gormley and midfielder Sinéad McTiernan representing Sligo.

 

Lidl NFL Division 3 Finalists; Waterford and Tipperary produced 2 contests to remember as they played out an incredibly exciting draw and replay in the decider. Both sides have been rewarded in the Division 3 Team of the League as Waterford have 5 players and Tipperary have 4. All three of Waterford’s Wall sisters are selected on the Team of the League with Mairéad and Linda represented in the full back line and Aileen in the half forwards. Gráinne Kenneally is selected at midfield with free taking sensation, Maria Delahunty, named at wing forward. Samantha Lambert, Anne O’Dwyer, Jennifer Grant and Mairéad Morrissey are the Tipperary quartet with Wexford represented by Maria Byrne and Catríona Murray. Fermanagh, Roscommon, Offaly and Leitrim complete the team with 1 player each.

 

The Lidl National Football League Division 4 team sees 5 counties represented on the selection. Limerick overcame Antrim in the Lidl NFL Division 4 Final and are rewarded with 5 players on the team including Alva Neary, Olivia Giltenane, Kristine Reidy, Division 4 Final Player of the Match, Niamh Richardson and brilliant attacker Dymphna O’Brien. Anna McCann is named as the goalkeeper and is joined by Antrim team mates, Áine Tubridy and Mairéad Cooper. Louth also have 3 representatives on the team with Kate Flood and Paula Murray being joined by Michelle McMahon. Longford are represented by Orla Noonan and Aoife Darcy with Wicklow duo Lorna Fusciardi and Clodagh Fox completing the selection.

 

The Teams of the League honour the players that performed best in their position throughout the entire league. The best 15 players are selected by the opposition managers within their own division with the players that receive the most nominations being selected in that position. The Lidl Manager of the League will also be named at the Lidl Teams of the League presentation night which will take place at Croke Park on June 1st.

 

Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Marie Hickey said ‘This has been a brilliant League campaign for our sport. The sponsorship by Lidl and their marketing campaign has elevated the game to a new level. The Lidl Teams of the League give recognition to players across all of our divisions, they are individual awards for some players who might not have received honours in the past. This reward is unique as it is selected by the Managers of the teams, including opposition managers, making this an extremely representative selection for all 4 divisions. I would like to congratulate the players selected and all the players and management teams on making this a most memorable League campaign.’

 

Aoife Clarke, Head of Communications, Lidl Ireland, said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the players who have been selected for the Teams of the League honour, as well as their team-mates and managers on what has been a fantastic league campaign. Since the launch of the Lidl LGFA partnership just six short months ago, we have witnessed athletic performances of the highest quality through all grades of the sport. At Lidl, we are immensely proud of our partnership with the LGFA and have worked hard to create a programme that will bring new levels of support and exposure to the sport. We have already donated over €250,000 worth of jerseys and equipment to 145 post-primary schools and will donate a total of over €500,000 to Ladies’ Gaelic football this year. We very much look forward to continuing this work over the coming three years within communities, clubs, schools and county teams right across the country.”

 

 

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 Team of the League Winners 2016

 

 

Position:

Player Name:

County:

1

Goal Keeper

Martina O’Brien

Cork

2

Right Corner Back

Roisín Phelan

Cork

3

Full Back

Aislinn Desmond

Kerry

4

Left Corner Back

Shauna Hynes

Galway

5

Right Half Back

Carla Rowe

Dublin

6

Centre Back

Neamh Woods

Tyrone

7

Left Half Back

Ciara Murphy

Kerry

8

Midfield

Megan Glynn

Galway

9

Midfield

Cora Courtney

Monaghan

10

Right Half Forward

Fiona McHale

Mayo

11

Centre Forward

Lyndsey Davey

Dublin

12

Left Half Forward

Annie Walsh

Cork

13

Right Corner Forward

Aimee Mackin

Armagh

14

Full Forward

Cora Staunton

Mayo

15

Left Corner Forward

Orla Finn

Cork