ALL-IRELAND INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS Cork lead the way in the nominees for the 2018 Camogie Soaring Stars Awards with 10 nominations while beaten finalists Down are close behind with nine.

10 for Cork, 9 for Down: Saoirse McCarthy and Sara-Louise Carr are both up for awards. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

With the All-Star nominees announced earlier this week, the 36 nominees for the Soaring Stars are drawn from the intermediate and Premier Junior grades — and the 15 “most outstanding” players receive the accolades.

After three All-Ireland intermediate final losses in-a-row, Cork beat Down on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-9 on the second Sunday in September to finally secure the crown. 

And they’ve been rewarded with 10 nominees for these awards. Among them are goalkeeper Amy Lee, defenders Sarah Harrington, Leah Weste, Jennifer Barry and Siobhán Hutchinson, midfielder Katelyn Hickey and attacking quartet Finola Neville, Caitríona Collins, Caroline Sugrue and Saoirse McCarthy, Player of the Match in the Croke Park decider.

The victorious Cork side celebrate. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Down, who were seeking to lift the silver for the first time in 20 years, cap a remarkable year with nine players on the shortlist.

Goalkeeper Marie McNally, defenders Alannah Savage, Nicole Down, Fionnuala Carr and Dearbhla Magee join midfielder Paula Griben and forward trio Sara-Louise Carr, Niamh Mallon and Saoirse Sands.

All-Ireland Premier Junior champions Dublin receive three nominations while there are two for Kerry, whom they beat in the final. 

Elsewhere, it’s three for Tipperary at intermediate level, two a-piece for Antrim and Westmeath and one for Derry.

Dublin lifted the Premier Junior crown. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Roscommon (two), Offaly and Armagh are all also represented at Premier Junior.

Earlier this week the 2018 All-Star nominees were announced with beaten All-Ireland senior finalists Kilkenny securing 14 nominations while back-to-back champions Cork were next in line with 12.

The 15th annual Camogie All-Stars banquet will take place in CityWest Hotel on Saturday 3 November, with both teams announced on the night as well as Player of the Years at each grade and Manager of the Year.

The 2017 Soaring Stars winners. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Here’s the Camogie Soaring Stars Awards 2018 sponsored by Liberty Insurance, nominees list in full:

Goalkeepers

1. Maria McNally (Down)
2. Amy Lee (Cork)
3. Shannon Touhey (Offaly)

Defenders

Full-Back Line

1. Niamh Leen (Kerry)
2. Sarah Harrington (Cork)
3. Sabrina Larkin (Tipperary)
4. Aoife Higgins (Westmeath)
5. Nicole Kelly (Down)
6. Alannah Savage (Down)
7. Leah Weste (Cork)

Half-Back Line

1. Aileen McManus (Antrim)
2. Jennifer Barry (Cork)
3. Gertie Dowd (Roscommon)
4. Fionnuala Carr (Down)
5. Siobhán Hutchinson (Cork)
6. Dearbhla Magee (Down)
7. Deirdre Johnstone (Dublin)

Midfielders

1. Paula Gribben (Down)
2. Nicola Loughnane (Tipperary)
3. Katelyn Hickey (Cork)
4. Gráinne McNicholl (Derry)
5. Patrice Diggin (Kerry)

Forwards

Half-Forward Line

1. Pamela Greville (Westmeath)
2. Caragh Dawson (Dublin)
3. Finola Neville (Cork)
4. Jenny Grace (Tipperary)
5. Katie McAleese (Antrim)
6. Saoirse McCarthy (Cork)
7. Ciara Donnelly (Armagh)

Full-Forward Line

1. Aoife Bugler (Dublin)
2. Sara-Louise Carr (Down)
3. Sinéad O’ Brien (Roscommon)
4. Caitríona Collins (Cork)
5. Caroline Sugrue (Cork)
6. Niamh Mallon (Down)
7. Saoirse Sands (Down)

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