An evening of fun and entertainment is in the making. The League wants all guests, club mentors, award winners, referees, and of course players, whether from winning clubs or participating clubs to thoroughly enjoy a special evening to close the curtain on what was a fantastic summer of football.
League chair, Elaine Junk, is enthusiastic in her appraisal for all clubs who competed over the summer. “Whilst we obviously congratulate all winners at all levels on their achievements, we admire and thank those other teams who competed with great enthusiasm to produce many memorable moments and made the year so outstanding again. We also thank those who helped us in any way during the course of the season. We wish all clubs the best of good fortune and hope to welcome all back next year. I also thank my colleagues at League management whose invaluable work makes everything run as smoothly as possible.
“Looking forward to our awards dinner it is shaping up to be another sparkling evening, following on from our inaugural event at the Slieve Donard Hotel last year. It was quite something and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed this time either at the Culloden.
“We have been working very hard behind the scenes to ensure that all goes well and that everyone who attends will have a good time.”
All teams have their stars. The ones who are just that little bit better. Some have gained international recognition, others are on their way. Some are driving forces, others possessing skills that unhinge and unnerve the opposition.
Everyone knows the winners of the various divisions and Cups and those who were successful in gaining promotion.
But who were the outstanding players in their clubs? Who are the pick of the divisions? Defenders, goalkeepers, midfielders and forwards, all positions come into the play. Praised by their managers and hailed by their supporters.
The Players of the Year Awards rouses immense interest, the centrepiece of the evening these are eagerly awaited. The winners have to be special, players who stood out in their performances over the season.
Choosing winners is difficult for the judges, presenting them with huge headaches, but good luck to all those in contention in their respective divisions.
Four players are in the running for the Premier award. Glentoran and the section’s top scorer Cathy O’Hagan, her teammate Gail Macklin, Simone Magill of Mid Ulster and Billie Simpson of Newbridge Predators are listed here. Sort that one out!
Top scorer Lauren Wade of Coleraine is one of six pencilled in for the Championship award. Others include Cliftonville duo Martine Power and Marissa Callaghan, Donegal Celtic’s Tamsin Strain, Amanda Morton of Dromore Amateurs and YMCA star Kendra McMullan; another array of quality players.
Four more class acts follow in Division One. These are Derry City’s Niamh Connolly, Gill Small of Larne, Tollymore Athletics Colleen Molloy and division top scorer Alexandra Hurst of Banbridge
Two players from Valley Rangers are among four listed for the Division Two trophy. Division top scorer Amy Burden is joined by Elaine Orr, with Ballymoney Rec’s Laura McCurdy and Lynsay Baxter of Wellington Rec making up the group.
Five players are in the reckoning for Division Three. Ace shooter Lauren Brennan of Sion Swifts is among an impressive line-up of Michelle Gregory of Crumlin United, Killyleagh’s Sara Jess, Stacy Murdough of Lisburn Ladies, and Suzi Irvine, PSNI,
Again five players have been nominated in Division Four. Newry City’s scoring machine Moya Feehan is in contention with Laura Geddis of Ballyvange, Craigavon’s Sarah Newton, Elena Dascalu of Dromara Village and Moneyslane’s Ashleigh Dinsmore.
Three players contest the Reserve Division. These are Nicola Stevenson of Ballymena United All-Stars, Glentoran BU’s Eva McCloskey and Heather McCracken of Linfield Ladies
Then there are the goal-scorers. They are the bundles of joy; the chosen ones; heartbreakers, net-busters, Match-winners. Each with their own individual style, but all with the gift for scoring with fascinating regularity; hailed by supporters as champions of the cause.
Cathy O’Hagan is one such magnetic player. Her 25 goals helped Glentoran reclaim the Premier title whilst another in the Premier Cup and four in the Coca Cola Women’s Irish Cup saw her total 30 goals for the season.
Coleraine may have missed out in the Championship but that didn’t sap the energy or dim the enthusiasm of Lauren Wade who snapped up 29 goals to head the section’s top scoring list.
Alexandra Hurst was another who continued to score against the odds. Although her side, Banbridge, finished in fourth spot in Division One, she managed to find the net a wonderful 25 times.
Division Two saw young Amy Burden top the charts. The Valley Rangers teenager fired in 20 League goals and three in the divisional cup to total 23 goals as her side completed yet another brilliant double-winning season and are set for Division One; their third promotion on the trot.
There was no holding Sion Swifts sensation Lauren Brennan in Division Three. She scored goals with sublime ease. 36 came in a runaway league campaign with another 13 coming in the Irish Cup as she fired in hat-trick after hat-trick, where her side shocked against teams from higher divisions on the way to the semi-finals of the Coca Cola. Her tally was a staggering 49 goals.
Newry City’s Moya Feehan was another young star in Division Four. She went on to score 42 league goals, six more in the Cup and two in the Coca Cola, marking up 51 in total.
In the Reserve Division Glentoran BU’s Maggie O’Hanlon headed her section with ten goals and one in the Cup as they made it a double-winning summer.
By Sammy Martin
