Portaferry’s Niamh gets camogie All-Star for fantastic season

27 November 2024

PORTAFERRY’S Niamh Mallon has become just the second Down player to make the PwC Camogie All-Star team.

Her selection was announced at a gala dinner in Croke Park, marking the first time an Ulster player has received the accolade in 15 years.

The local star has long been praised for her prolific scoring and now adds this achievement to her three Soaring Star Awards and Intermediate Cup player of the year.

Many believed she should have been included in teams over the past couple of seasons, with Down winning the Intermediate All-Ireland and being promoted to the O’Duffy Cup.

She was nominated in 2021, Down’s first year back, but despite some eye-catching scoring over the next two seasons, she was overlooked for a nomination.

Earlier this season, Mallon transferred to Galway, where she is based for her work with sports data firm Orreco, and continued her scoring feats.

She hit 1-21 over five games as Galway finished runners up in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior title-race last month.

The All-Star awards were introduced in 2004 to mark the centenary of the Camogie Association, and Liatroim Fontenoys forward Máirín McAleenan made the team.

At that stage, she had played in the Down senior team for 17 years and the award came towards the close of a career that saw her, like Mallon, pick up All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate championship titles.

She also spearheaded the Fontenoys challenge that brought them All-Ireland club titles in 2004 and 2005.

The other Ulster players to pick up All-Star wards were Derry’s Aisling Diamond in 2007, Antrim’s Jane Adams in 2008 and another Derry player, Gráinne McGoldrick, in 2009.

This year’s All-star team was dominated by O’Duffy Cup winners Cork, but it is Mallon who stands out as only the fifth player from Ulster to receive the nod.

2024 PwC All Stars: Amy Lee, Cork (goalkeeper); Dervla Higgins, Galway (corner back), Roisin Black, Galway (full back); Pamela Mackey, Cork (corner back), Laura Hayes, Cork (wing/half back); Laura Treacy, Cork (centre back); Claire Gannon, Dublin (wing/half back); Ashling Thompson, Cork (midfield); Aoife Donohue, Galway (midfield), Saoirse McCarthy, Cork (wing/half forward); Karen Kennedy, Tipperary (centre forward); Carrie Dolan, Galway (wing/half forward); Niamh Mallon, Galway (corner forward); Katrina Mackeyl, Cork (full forward); Amy O’Connor, Cork (corner forward).

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder