Mariosa McGourty and Natalie McGuiness, who both played significant roles in
Rossa collecting a first All-Ireland club Camogie title for Ulster, have
been included in the Bank of Ireland Ulster Colleges’ All-star selection
announced yesterday by Colleges’ secretary Sr Mairead.
It is a first award for St Louise’s student Natalie, but a second for
Mariosa whose three older brothers Kieran, Kevin and Conor all gained
multiple awards in the Colleges’ GAA selections over the years.
Mariosa is one of 10 players from the panel of 23 who were in last year’s
squad. Indeed, three players – Shannon Graham from St Louis Ballymena,
Aileen McCusker from St Mary’s Magherafelt and Emma Connolly from Cross &
Passion Ballycastle – pick up their third successive All-star accolade.
All three are already established in their respective county senior teams.
St Mary’s defeated Cross & Passion in the Ulster Colleges’ Senior final and
nine of the players featuring in that final were recognised by the selection
committee.
As well as Aileen and Emma, the McKenna cousins Christine and Eimear, and
Emma Connor and Emma McMullan all received awards last year.
Three players who featured in the Fr Davies Cup final are also included, St
Patrick’s Keady’s flying forward Ciara Donnelly joining Garron Tower pair
Bronagh Heggarty (gaining a second award) and Ashling Ward who fired in five
goals in that final in Casement Park before Christmas.
This will represent a boost for the Tower ahead of their All-Ireland final
on March 14th.
Another pair with All-Ireland Colleges’ aspirations next month is St
Patrick’s Maghera under 16 players Karen Kielt and Grainne McNicholl.
Karen is already in the Derry senior squad and was a nominee for camogie’s
national youth award back in November, while Grainne is a daughter of
legendary Derry and Ulster player of the 1980s Sarah (nee Quinn).
There are two further Maghera players selected – Aine Kelly, picking up a
second award and Sinead Laverty, whose sister Clare was an All-star last
year.
The All-star selection of 23 players is dominated by north Antrim (9) and
south Derry schools (8).
But there are also call-ups for three emerging Down under-age players Lisa
McPolin, Jordan Hynds and Colleen Fearon.
The players will represent their province in the Colleges’ inter-provincial
on Wednesday 15th April and then officially receive their awards at a Gala
Dinner later in the month. The full Bank of Ireland Ulster Colleges’
All-star Team of 2009.
Emma Connolly, Emma Connor, Emma McMullan, Rebecca Walsh and Samantha
McKillen (Cross & Passion College Ballycastle)
Shannon Graham and Una McNaughton (St Louis Ballymena)
Br¾nagh Heggarty and Ashling Ward (St MacNissi’s College Garron Tower)
Mairiosa McGourty (St Genevieve’s Belfast)
Aine Kelly, Karen Kielt, Sinead Laverty and Grainne McNicholl (St Patrick’s
Maghera)
Aileen McCusker, Rachel Kelly, Christine McKenna and Eimear McKenna (St
Mary’s Magherafelt)
Lisa McPolin (Our Lady’s Grammar Newry)
Natalie McGuiness (St Louise’s Belfast)
Ciara Donnelly (St Patrick’s Keady)
Jordan Hynds (Assumption Ballynahinch)
Colleen Fearon (St Louis Kilkeel)
Colleges’ All-star pen-pics :
Name : Karen Kielt
School : St Patrick’s College, Maghera
Club : Kilrea Pearses’
Karen was nominated for the national Young Player of the 2008 award after
starring for Derry in their second successive All-Ireland under 16 success.
She is a member of the county senior squad and has won Ulster Colleges’
medals with St Patrick’s.
Name : Aine Kelly
School : St Patrick’s College, Maghera
Club : Dungiven
Aine captained Derry to the All-Ireland under 16 title in a replay over
Waterford in 2007 and has played for her club senior team. She has won
several Ulster Colleges’ medals and was on the school team that reached the
All-Ireland Junior final in 2006.
Name : Grainne McNicholl
School : St Patrick’s College, Maghera
Club : Davitt’s Swatragh
Grainne won a second successive All-Ireland under 16 medal last year with
Derry and has collected provincial under-age medals. With St Patrick’s, she
has won several provincial medal and will play for them in the All-Ireland
under 16 semi-final on March 7th.
Name : Colleen Fearon
School : St Louis Kilkeel
Club : An RÝocht
Colleen was in the Down panel that reached the 2007 All-Ireland Minor final.
Last autumn she won a Down Junior medal with An RÝocht and helped her school
reached the Ulster Senior Medallion Shield final.
Name: Sinead Laverty
School: St. Patrick’s Maghera
Club : Creggan Kickhams
Sinead’s sister Clare collected an All-star last year. Sinead has
represented Antrim at all levels winning a National League Div 3 medal in
2008. Also holds Ulster and All-Ireland under-age medals.
Name : Aileen McCusker
School : St. Mary’s, Magherafelt
Club : Ballinderry Shamrocks
Aileen has won a total of 11 Ulster Colleges’ Medals with St. Mary’s and
played full-back for the senior team in their run to the All-Ireland title.
She holds an Ulster U-14 medal with Derry and with Ballinderry she has U-14,
16, 18 Derry League and Championship medals. This is her third All-star.
Name : Christine McKenna
School : St. Mary’s, Magherafelt
Club : Ballinascreen
Christine was centre-half back on the St Mary’s team that won the
All-Ireland Colleges’ Senior title in 2007. She holds Ulster Colleges’
medals at all levels and also many under-age medals with her club
Ballinascreen including an All-Ireland FÚile na nGael title. This is her
second All-star.
Name : Rachel Kelly
School : St. Mary’s, Magherafelt
Club : Ballinascreen
Rachel has 2 All-Ireland under 16 medals with Derry and a number of
under-age medals with Ballinascreen including 4 FÚile na nGael medals. She
is also an accomplished footballer.
Name : Eimear McKenna
School : St. Mary’s, Magherafelt
Club : Ballinascreen
Eimear was corner-forward on the St Mary’s team that won the All-Ireland
Colleges’ Senior title in 2007. She has won a number of Ulster Colleges’
medals in both defence and attack and has many under-age medals with her
club Ballinascreen including an All-Ireland FÚile na nGael title. This is
her second All-star.
Name : Shannon Graham
School : St. Louis Grammar, Ballymena
Club: Creggan Kickhams
Shannon won a National League Div 3 medal with Antrim in 2008 as well as an
All-Ireland minor title in 2007 and Ulster Under 14 and two Under 16
championship medals. She has an Ulster club medal with Creggan and in 2007
helped St. Louis win the Fr Davies’ Cup. Shannon is also an accomplished
Gaelic footballer with 4 provincial medals. This is her third All-star.
Name: Una McNaughton
School: St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena
Club: Loughgiel Shamrocks
Una has won Ulster Under 14 and Under 16 championship medals with Antrim and
a Liatroim Fontenoys’ Cup title with her school. She has won many under-age
medals with Loughgiel and is now a senior club player.
Name : Br¾nagh Heggarty
School : St. MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower
Club : RuairÝ Ëg, Cushendall
Bronagh captained her school to the Ulster under 16 title, and also
collected two provincial Senior titles with St MacNissi’s. She has
represented Antrim at under-age level and wins her second All-star.
Name : Ashling Ward
School: St. MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower
Club: St Mary’s Carnlough.
Ashling has won 6 Ulster Colleges’ medals with her school and is currently
preparing for the All-Ireland Senior B final. She has represented Antrim at
under 16 level.
Name : Emma McMullan
School : Cross and Passion, Ballycastle
Club : Loughgiel Shamrocks
Emma has won Ulster Colleges’ medals at all levels with Cross & Passion.
She holds Ulster medals at different levels with Antrim and many county
medals with Loughgiel. This is her second All-star
Name : Rebecca Walsh
School : Cross and Passion, Ballycastle
Club : McQuillan’s, Ballycastle
Rebecca captained her school to the All-Ireland under 16 title last April.
She holds national FÚile na nGael medals and several Antrim medals with her
club. She also holds Ulster under-age medals with her county.
Name : Emma Connor
School : Cross and Passion, Ballycastle
Club : McQuillan’s, Ballycastle
Emma captained Antrim to the provincial under 14 title and won an
All-Ireland under 16 title with her school last April. She holds national
FÚile na nGael medals and several Antrim medals with her club.
Name : Samantha McKillen
School : Cross and Passion, Ballycastle
Club : McQuillan’s, Ballycastle
Samantha won an All-Ireland under 16 title with her school last April. She
holds national FÚile na nGael medals and several Antrim medals with her
club, as well as two Ulster under 14 medals with Antrim.
Name : Emma Connolly
School : Cross and Passion, Ballycastle
Club : Loughgiel Shamrocks
Emma has played at all levels with Antrim winning a National League Div 3
medal in 2008 and Ulster titles at under 14, under 16 and under 18
championship. She has also won All-Ireland under 16 and Minor titles, and
with Cross and Passion medals at many levels including captaining the school
to the Ulster Senior title. This is her third All-star.
Name : Natalie McGuiness
School : St. Louise’s Belfast
Club : O’Donovan Rossa
With Rossa, Natalie has several Antrim and Ulster Senior league and
championship medals and played at centre-back in their All-Ireland Senior
club title win in 2008. She also holds a provincial medal at under 14 level
with Antrim.
Name : Mairiosa McGourty
School : St. Genevieve’s Belfast
Club : O’Donovan Rossa
Mairiosa has won Ulster medals at under 14 level and represented the
Saffrons at under 16 level. With Rossa, she won an All-Ireland medal in
November and has 5 Antrim and Ulster Senior league and championship medals.
This is her second All-star.
Name : Jordan Hynds
School : Assumption Grammar Ballynahinch
Club : Beann Dearg.
Jordan has represented Down at all under-age levels and was goal-keeper when
the county reached the 2007 All-Ireland Minor final.
Name : Lisa McPolin
School : Our Lady’s Newry
Club : Clonduff Shamrocks
Lisa has won Down medals at all levels with Clonduff and an All-Ireland
minor medal with her county in 2006, as well as a Senior Medallion Shield
medal with her school. She is currently in the Down senior squad.
Name : Ciara Donnelly
School : St. Patrick’s Keady
Club : St. Mary’s Granemore
Ciara has won a Mid-Ulster League medal with her club. She won several
Ulster Colleges’ medals with her school, and has represented Armagh at
senior level in Gaelic Football.
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