Louise Ward (Galway)
THERE IS A great buzz around Galway Ladies Football right now as they celebrate having recently claimed promotion to the top Division of the TESCO Homegrown National Football League and followed this up with a third Connacht title in a row.
Much of the optimism in the west centres around their 2013 All-Ireland Minor title winning side, none of whom show more promise than Louise Ward.
The Kilkerrin Clonberne player is a superb forward who has shown maturity beyond her years with the senior county side. The tall attacker is blessed with blistering pace and a knack to head straight for goal whenever the opportunity presents.
Noelle Healy (Dublin)
Dublin are one of the form teams in the country having contested the National Football League Final and claimed their third Leinster title in a row thanks, in part, to Noelle Healy.
The St. Bridgid’s club star has been in superb form in 2014 as she operates from the wing-forward berth where her pace and directness allow her to terrorise defences.
Healy accounted for 1-2 in the Leinster final with the goal being a typical example of her play; outpacing the entire Laois backline and firing into the top corner of the net.
Vera Foley (Cork)
The retirement of Juliet Murphy has brought about the move of legendary defender Briege Corkery to midfield leading many to question if anyone could replace the St. Val’s star in back line but they needn’t have worried as her club mate, Vera Foley, has slotted seamlessly into the famous number five jersey.
Foley has had to wait to get her opportunity but made up for lost time by instantly making the position her own and providing leadership from the right flank of the Rebellette defence.
Foley has also been in fantastic form this year, helping her club and county to Munster finals.
Cáit Lynch (Kerry)
Cáit Lynch is one of the most composed defenders in the game over recent years having earned her first TG4 All-Star Award in 2012 as corner-back but has recently moved out to the number six where she is able to have a much greater influence on the game.
Her influence on the Kerry team can’t be underestimated as she is often the launching pad for many attacks.
Kerry surrendered their Munster crown to Cork earlier this month but it was a largely experimental line up in which Lynch actually operated in the half-forward line.
Fionnuala McKenna (Armagh)
Although Fionnuala McKenna is a young player she has already emerged as one of the very best forwards in the game and one of the key reasons Armagh shocked Monaghan to win the Ulster title this year.
Still only 20, the Armagh Harps player has established herself as the Orchard’s most potent weapon in attack.
Operating from the half-forward line, McKenna plays a traditional number 11 role, winning plenty of ball around the middle and acting as her side’s playmaker.
Cora Courtney (Monaghan)
Monaghan will have to take qualifiers route following their surprise defeat at the hands of Armagh in the Ulster final but they are still a star-studded team and they don’t come much better than Cora Courtney.
The diminutive half-forward can also operate in the middle of the field where her astonishing work rate sees her cover every blade of grass.
In addition, Courtney is often see helping out in defence before playing clinical passes into her forwards and supporting play.
Info provided by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.
