THE 2025 Ladies HEC All-Star and Rising Stars teams have been announced.
These selections honour the very best performers from the recent Ladies HEC Championships.
The 2025 competitions concluded at Queen’s University in Belfast over the weekend of Thursday-Saturday March 13-15.
Seven pieces of silverware were handed out across three memorable days, with DCU Dóchas Éireann capturing the flagship O’Connor Cup for a third successive year.
DCU DÉ also captured Moynihan and HEC Cup honours, to make it a hat-trick of titles over the weekend.
It’s DCU DÉ who lead the way on the Ladies HEC All-Star team, with six players included.
Goalkeeper Robyn Murray is joined on the selection by defenders Niamh Donlon and Sarah Reynolds, midfielder Hannah McGinnis, and forwards Clodagh Lohan and Emma Duggan.
Longford’s Lohan was Player of the Match against UCC in the final, as Meath ace Duggan captained the team to glory.
UCC were beaten finalists once again but there is some consolation for them as they have five players included on the All-Star team of the year, namely defenders Eve Power, Dara Kiniry and Aoife Healy, alongside forward pair Emily Lacey and Emma Morrissey.
There are three places on the team for players from Giles Cup winners, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
Captain Aoife Dillane, Lydia McDonagh (Player of the Match in the final) and Rachel Dwyer all earn slots on the selection, which is completed by the inclusion of Katie O’Driscoll from Lynch Cup winners MTU Cork, who was Player of the Match in the final.
The Ladies HEC Rising Stars team recognises the contribution of players across the HEC, Lagan, Donaghy, and Moynihan Cups.
Leading the way on this team are Moynihan Cup winners DCU Dóchas Éireann (4), who have five players on the selection.
Donaghy Cup winners ATU Galway have three players included; there are two each from Lagan Cup winners University of Limerick (5) and Moynihan Cup Finalists TU Dublin CC, and one each from Marino Institute of Education, TUS Midwest and DCU Dóchas Éireann (7).
The winners will receive their awards at a ceremony at The Bonnington Dublin Hotel, next Friday March 28.
Ladies Gaelic Football President Trina Murray commented: “Well done to all recipients of 2025 Ladies HEC All-Star and Rising Stars Awards. I was present at Queen’s University to witness some brilliant football over the course of finals weekend.
“The standard of third-level football is extremely high and I wish to compliment the hard-working Ladies HEC committee and all of those involved from Queen’s University, Belfast, to ensure the smooth running of the games.”
Ladies HEC Chairperson, Daniel Caldwell, added: “Congratulations to all the recipients of 2025 Ladies HEC All-Star and Rising Stars awards. With over 2200 registered players, 68 teams playing across 7 divisions to be recognised with an award is a significant achievement.
“To our 2025 hosts, Queens University Belfast, thank you so much for the work you put into organising and supporting the O'Connor Cup. It was such a well organised event; your facilities and your team of staff and student volunteers provided a great platform for an amazing weekend of football.”
2025 HEC All Stars
1. Robyn Murray - DCU Dóchas Éireann
2. Niamh Donlon - DCU Dóchas Éireann
3. Eve Power – University College Cork
4. Dara Kiniry – University College Cork
5. Sarah Reynolds - DCU Dóchas Éireann
6. Aoife Healy – University College Cork
7. Aoife Dillane – Mary Immaculate College Limerick
8. Hannah McGinnis - DCU Dóchas Éireann
9. Katie O’Driscoll – Munster Technological University Cork
10. Clodagh Lohan - DCU Dóchas Éireann
11. Lydia McDonagh – Mary Immaculate College Limerick
12. Emma Duggan - DCU Dóchas Éireann
13. Emily Lacey – University College Cork
14. Emma Morrissey – University College Cork
15. Rachel Dwyer – Mary Immaculate College Limerick
2025 HEC Rising Stars
1. Emily Hevey - DCU Dóchas Éireann 4
2. Rachel McIntyre – Marino Institute of Education
3. Riane McGrath - DCU Dóchas Éireann 4
4. Kelli McGrath – Atlantic Technological University Galway
5. Caoimhe Boyle - DCU Dóchas Éireann 4
6. Heather Spillane – Technological University of the Shannon Midwest
7. Claire O’Donohoe - University of Limerick 5
8. Áine Smith - DCU Dóchas Éireann 4
9. Brigid O’Reilly - Technological University Dublin CC
10. Saoirse Delaney – Atlantic Technological University Galway
11. Shannon Russell - Technological University Dublin CC
12. Aisling Costelloe – Atlantic Technological University Galway
13. Sarah Boyd - DCU Dóchas Éireann 7
14. Ciara Dowd - University of Limerick 5
15. Niamh McCorry - DCU Dóchas Éireann 4
