Exactly half of the 24 players selected on the 2024-25 EOS IT Solutions All-star camogie team play for Antrim clubs!
The team was announced at the University of Ulster Jordanstown campus yesterday (WEDNESDAY) afternoon and top billing goes to Cross & Passion Ballycastle with six players getting the nod.
They include Erin O’Hara who is one of just three from last year’s team to make it through the preliminary trials last week and a final trial on Tuesday, all trials facilitated by the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.
Goalkeeper O’Hara is joined in the team by Cara Delaney and Shanna Deery along with three girls who are younger sisters of previous All-star recipients. Mary McArthur is following in the footsteps of Cassie (2022) and Ceala Dobbin bridges a ten year gap back to Caitrín while Marie Laverty has equalled the achievements of two older siblings Ciara (2020) and Orlagh (2022).
Another north Antrim school, St Killian’s Garron Tower, pick up four awards, all of them members of the Ruairí Óg Cushendall club that has been so successful at under-age level in recent years. Eva McNeill’s older sister Abi was selected two years ago while the other awards go to Laura Black, Kady McNeill and Amy McAlister.
Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey scored two goals and a point in Saturday’s win over Loughgiel in the Antrim Intermediate final. She is one of three St Patrick’s Maghera students in the mix.
Bringing the total up to a dozen is Aimee Ferris. The Sarsfield’s forward has been a regular on Saffron under-age teams through the grades. She is the first player representing St Genevieve’s to make the cut since Caoimhe McNiece eight years ago.
The other players joining Erin O’Hara for a second All-star are Leah Cassidy from Bellaghy and St Patrick’s Maghera and Fiadhna Loughran, a student in St Patrick’s Keady who helped Granemore win the All-Ireland junior club title last year.
Congratulating the players, Ulster schools’ chair Chloe McShane, complimented the standard of the trials:
“Year after year, we have watched as the standards have risen at the trials. We had almost 120 girls attending trials on the opening two days last week and it was a huge task for our selectors to narrow it down to the 45 who were invited back to the final trial, never mind pick 24 who will hopefully represent us in the inter-provincial competition.
“I would especially like to congratulate Erin O’Hara, Leah Cassidy and Fiadhna Loughran who have all been selected for the second year running. What an achievement!
“I would also like to thank all the schools across Ulster who have nurtured the talent coming through from the clubs. We have our senior competitions beginning next week and I look forward to seeing the players we have seen over the last couple of weeks shine for their schools as the competitions progress.
“Finally our thanks to Paul Rouse at UU at Jordanstown for providing the facilities for the trials as well as a beautiful set of jerseys for all those who attended the final trial.
Once again it is hoped that the inter-provincial tournament can be resurrected this year. The inter-pros have not taken place since November 2018 when Ulster won their third title.
The 24 players named will receive their awards at a gala dinner in the Elk restaurant in Toomebridge early in 2025.
EOS IT Solutions Ulster Colleges’ Camogie All-stars 2024-2025:
Erin O’Hara, Cara Delaney, Shanna Deery, Mary McArthur, Ceala Dobbin, Marie Laverty (Cross and Passion, Ballycastle)
Laura Black, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill, Amy McAlister (St Killian’s, Garron Tower)
Leah Cassidy, Katie McCloskey, Caoimhe Chambers (St Patrick’s, Maghera)
Fiadhna Loughran, Eimear McGeery (St Patrick’s Keady)
Catherine Moohan (St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon)
Paige Bell (St Pius X Magherafelt)
Grace Draine (St Conor’s Clady/Kilrea)
Erin Daly (Assumption, Ballynahinch)
Niamh Nig Uiginn (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire)
Jessica McCreesh (Our Lady’s Newry)
Aimee Ferris (St Genevieve’s Belfast)
Aoife McAteer (St Patrick’s Dungiven)
Emma Hart (St Catherine’s Armagh)