Seven Sarsfields Players Make AIB Camogie Club Team of the Year but Loughrea Aren't Acknowledged in Hurling Selection

Seven Sarsfields players have been named on the AIB camogie club team of the year with Niamh and Siobhan McGrath also nominated for player of the year.

Laura Ward, Maria Cooney, Tara Kenny, Klara Donohue and Caoimhe Kelly have also been selected, but interestingly, no Loughrea player got picked on the hurling selection.

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AIB is proud to announce the AIB GAA Hurling and Camogie Club Championship Teams of the Year, recognising the outstanding achievements of some of #TheToughest players across the country.

The teams of the year were carefully selected by a panel of experts, who diligently assessed performances throughout the championships. AIB will honour these players at the AIB Club Player Awards ceremony this Friday, March 21st, where the coveted player of the year awards will also be revealed.

The nominees for AIB GAA Hurling Club Player of the Year are Brian Ryan and Andrew Jamieson-Murphy both of Na Fianna along with Jack O’Connor of Sarsfields (Cork). The nominees for AIB Camogie Club Player of the Year are Niamh McGrath and Siobhán McGrath of Sarsfields (Galway) and Áine O' Loughlin of Truagh Clonlara.

2024 marked a significant milestone as AIB celebrated its 34^th year sponsoring the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships, its 12^th year backing the AIB Camogie All-Ireland Club Championships, and it proudly commenced its sponsorship of the All-Ireland Ladies Football Club Championship. The AIB Club Player Awards for 2024/25 will recognise the exceptional contributions of club players across Hurling, Gaelic Football, Camogie, and LGFA. This year's unified event promises to be a memorable occasion, celebrating all four codes of the Gaelic Games club season, marking the first time ever that players from Football, Hurling, Camogie and LGFA will be honoured together at the same prestigious awards.

Following their third AIB Camogie All-Ireland Senior Club Championship victory in four years, Sarsfields (Galway), have been awarded seven places on the AIB Camogie Club Championship Team of the Year including Niamh McGrath who delivered a player of the match performance in the final. Beaten All-Ireland finalists Truagh-Clonlara have five players on the team of the year following their stellar season which included a first ever All Ireland Final appearance. While three players from AIB Camogie Ulster Club Champions Loughgiel Shamrocks make up the remaining members of the AIB Camogie Club Championship Team of the Year.

All-Ireland champions Na Fianna have been awarded eight places on the AIB GAA Hurling Club Championship Team of the Year. The Dublin club reached their first ever AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final thanks to an AJ Murphy point in the 64^th minute of their semi-final victory over Loughrea that helped them win by a single point. Munster champions Sarsfields (Cork) have been awarded three places on the team of the year who overcame Ulster Champions Slaughtneil by a point in a hard-fought contest in the semi-final. Three players from Slaughtneil have also been named on the team of the year, while 2021/22 All-Ireland Champions Ballygunner have been awarded one place on the AIB GAA Hurling Club Championship Team of the Year, with Stephen O'Keefe earning a well-deserved spot for his outstanding performances throughout the campaign.

Commenting on the Awards, AIB Chief Customer Officer Orlaith Ryan said: “AIB is exceptionally proud to support the dedication and skill of these fantastic players. The AIB Club Player Awards are a celebration of the commitment, passion and unwavering spirit that define #TheToughest players. We are delighted to recognise their achievements, and we look forward to celebrating with them at the AIB Club Player Awards on Friday.”

Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns added: “I want to congratulate the players who have been announced on this high calibre AIB Club hurling team of the year and am delighted that we will honour them alongside their counterparts on a star-studded AIB Camogie Club team of the year on Friday night, where we will also crown the overall Players of the Year.  Our club championships enthral us like no other competition and yet again, the hurling championship was a hotbed of drama, colour and excitement - backboned by no shortage of skill. These awards present us with an opportunity to recognise the exceptional players in a memorable campaign and my thanks to AIB for their assistance in making this happen”

Uachtarán an Cumann Camógaíochta, Brian Molloy said: “The AIB Camogie Club Championships continue to showcase the incredible talent and dedication within our sport. Congratulations to all the players named on the team of the year. Their commitment inspires the next generation of Camogie players, and we are grateful to AIB for their continued support in highlighting these exceptional athletes. This season has been truly exciting, with players pushing themselves to the limit.”

AIB Camogie Club Championships Team of the Year 2024/25

1. Sophie Cullen (Truagh-Clonlara, Clare)
2. Sinead Hogg (Truagh-Clonlara, Clare)
3. Laura Ward (Sarsfields, Galway)
4. Clare Mckillop (Loughgiel Shamrocks, Antrim)
5. Ellen Horgan (Truagh-Clonlara, Clare)
6. Maria Cooney (Sarsfields, Galway)
7. Tara Kenny (Sarsfields, Galway)
8. Niamh McGrath, Sarsfields, Galway)
9. Amy Boyle (Loughgiel Shamrocks, Antrim)
10. Klara Donohue (Sarsfields, Galway)
11. Lucia McNaughton (Loughgiel Shamrocks, Antrim)
12. Aine O' Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara, Clare)
13. Eimear Kelly (Truagh-Clonlara, Clare)
14. Siobhan McGrath (Sarsfields, Galway)
15. Caoimhe Kelly (Sarsfields, Galway)

AIB Camogie Club Championship Player of the Year nominees

• Niamh McGrath – Sarsfields (Galway)
• Siobhán McGrath – Sarsfields (Galway)
• Áine O' Loughlin – Truagh-Clonlara

AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year 2024/25

1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner, Waterford)
2. Fionn McEldowney (Slaughtneil, Derry)
3. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna, Dublin)
4. Kevin Burke (Na Fianna, Dublin)
5. Paul O’Dea (Na Fianna, Dublin)
6. Liam Rushe (Na Fianna, Dublin)
7. Shane McGuigan (Slaughtneil, Derry)
8. Brian Ryan (Na Fianna, Dublin)
9. Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields, Cork)
10. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields, Cork)
11. Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil, Derry)
12. Ciarán Stacey (Na Fianna, Dublin)
13. Colin Currie (Na Fianna, Dublin)
14. AJ Murphy (Na Fianna, Dublin)
15. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields, Cork)

AIB GAA Hurling Club Championship Player of the Year nominees

• Brian Ryan – Na Fianna
• Andrew Jamieson-Murphy – Na Fianna
• Jack O’Connor – Sarsfields (Cork)

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