Dublins Sarah McCaffrey wins Leinster Award

  • Nov 05,2010

The 31st ONeills / TG4 Ladies All Star Awards banquet will take place next Saturday the 13th of November in the Citywest Hotel, Saggart. 

Dublin as 2010 Senior All Ireland Champions dominate the All Star nominations list with nine players, Cliodhna O’Connor, Rachel Ruddy, Gemma Fay, Siobhan McGrath, Denise Masterson, Amy McGuinness, Mary Nevin, Elaine Kelly and Sinead Aherne.

How many Dubs will leave Citywest nest Saturday night with a coveted specially commissioned Jarlath Daly bronze statuette remains to be seen however Dublin are guaranteed at least one winner on the night as Dublin’s U16 and Clontarf star Sarah McCaffrey has been selected as the Leinster Young Player of the Year for 2010.

Sarah was centre back on the Dublin team who captured both the Leinster and All Ireland U16 titles this year. Sarah’s performances at the heart of the Dublin defence were commanding, solid and inspiring. Sarah’s stand out performance came in the All-Ireland final itself versus Kerry.

This game showcased everything that is good about Ladies football it had skill, passion, drama and excitement. Sarah’s defensive skills mixed with her determination to never give up where without question key to Dublin bringing the cup back to the Capital for the first time since 2006.

The “defensive” gene of course is in Sarah’s blood as her Father Dr Noel McCaffrey also wore the famous sky blue jersey and was an All Star winner back in 1988. Since the inception of the Provincial Young Player of the Year awards back in 2003 Dublin have been very successful with Sarah becoming the fifth Dub to be presented with the title.

Previous Dublin winners were Fiona Hudson (2004), Lyndsay Davey (2005), Sinead O ’Mahoney (2006) and Amy Connolly (2007).Other Young Player of the Year winners who have gone on to win All Stars included, Rena Buckley (Cork),  Amanda Murphy (Cork), Ciara McAnespie (Monaghan) and our own Lyndsay Davey.

Niamh McLoughlin (Donegal) who was the Ulster Young Player of the Year in 2009 is amongst the nominations for an All Star award this year and her sister Ciara also bagged the Ulster Young Player of the Year title back in 2007 so Sarah is indeed walking amongst the stars!

Pictured above 2004 winner Fiona Hudson (Fingallians)

Pictured above 2005 winner Lyndsay Davey (Skerries Harps)

Sinead OMahoney (Skerries Harps) 2006 winner.

  

Amy Connolly (Foxrock Cabinteely) 2007 winner.

Dr Noel McCaffrey All Star winner 1988.