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Paddy Tierney

All-Ireland finalists Antrim and Fermanagh dominate LGFA Junior Team of the Year

All-Ireland finalists Antrim and Fermanagh dominate the 2022 TG4 Junior Team of the Championship with 12 players between the two counties.

It took a replay to separate the Ulster rivals in this year’s Championship with the Saffrons prevailing at the second time of asking at the Athletic Grounds in August.

Antrim captain Cathy Carey lifted the West County Hotel Cup and the Moneyglass star has been named in the Team of the Championship along with seven of her colleagues.

Read more: Antrim captain Cathy Carey named LGFA Player of the Month for August

Goalkeeper Anna McCann, defenders Aislinn McFarland, Niamh McIntosh, Saoirse Tennyson and Sarah O’Neill, midfielder Lara Dahunsia and forward Orlaith Prenter are rewarded for their stellar performances throughout the season.

Antrim's Lara Dahunsi celebrates after the All-Ireland replay win over Fermanagh in the Athletic Grounds and the St Paul's ace has named named in the TG4 Junior Team of the Championship. (©INPHO/Evan Treacy)

Fermanagh have four players included with the leading scorer in the Junior Championship, Eimear Smyth, joined by Sarah McCarville, Aisling O’Brien and Bláithín Bogue.

Limerick’s Kristine Reidy and Carlow duo Rachel Sawyer and Sara Doyle complete the line-up with the winners set to receive their awards at a function at Croke Park on Friday, November 4 along with the Intermediate Team of the Championship.

The nominees for the TG4 Senior All Stars will be confirmed next week with Dublin’s Bonnington Hotel hosting the awards on Saturday, November 19.

Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Mícheál Naughton, commented: “The TG4 All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate Championships produced some outstanding football this year.

Fermanagh's Eimear Smyth was the top scorer in the Junior Championship and is included in the 2022 Team of the Championship (©INPHO/Tom Maher)

“We felt that it was only right and fitting to honour the contributions of Junior and Intermediate Championship players by naming Teams of the Championship in these grades.

“We did so in 2020 and the announcement of the Teams of the Championship revives memories of memorable summer fixtures.

“Across the board, we witnessed stunning saves, spectacular points, clinically taken goals, tight defending, high fielding around the middle of the field and the very best that our sport has to offer.

“Our Junior Final at Croke Park on July 31 was a thriller, before Antrim won the replay, while Laois were pushed all the way by a gallant Wexford outfit in the Intermediate Final.

“The standard of football was superb, however, right from the very start of the All-Ireland series in both competitions, and I wish to compliment the players who ensured that many of the fixtures that were played will be talked about long into the future.”

TG4 Junior Team of the Championship:

  1. Anna McCann (Antrim)

  2. Kristine Reidy ( Limerick)

  3. Aislinn McFarland ( Antrim)

  4. Niamh McIntosh (Antrim)

  5. Sarah McCarville (Fermanagh)

  6. Saoirse Tennyson (Antrim)

  7. Sarah O’Neill (Antrim)

  8. Lara Dahunsi ( Antrim)

  9. Aisling O’Brien (Fermanagh)

  10. Cathy Carey (Antrim)

  11. Bláithín Bogue (Fermanagh)

  12. Rachel Sawyer ( Carlow)

  13. Sara Doyle (Carlow)

  14. Orlaith Prenter (Antrim)

  15. Eimear Smyth (Fermanagh)

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