Tipp’s Golden Girls

By Shane Brophy and Liam Hogan

Tipperary camogie got a massive shot in the arm ahead of the new campaign after Áine Slattery, Mary and Karen Kennedy were selected on the 2020 Camogie Association All-Star team last Saturday night.

Slattery (goalkeeper), Ryan (left corner-back) and Kennedy (centre half-back) all won their first All-Stars Awards as Tipperary along with Cork claimed three gongs each, behind All-Ireland champions Kilkenny dominated the 2020 Camogie All-Stars taking six places. It was the first time in the eighteen-year history of the awards that Tipperary won more than two All-Stars.

While Tipperary fell at the All-Ireland semi-final stage for the third year in a row, their performance level has improved, particularly in defence and that has been recognised in the awards.

Winning an All-Star award at the age of just eighteen is a remarkable achievement for Shannon Rovers Áine Slattery, who follows in the footsteps of clubmate Pat McLoughney who was a double All-Star hurling goalie in 1979 and 1980.

“I’m in shock now to be honest,” she said.

“I didn’t believe it because it’s one of those things you don’t expect.”

A leaving cert student at Borrisokane Community College, she first wore the blue and gold in 2016 as part of an under 14 development squad. She went onto play under 16 and then minor in 2020, however that campaign was cancelled due to Covid-19. However, her ability didn’t go unnoticed by the senior management and despite still being a minor, she was thrust into making her championship debut against Clare last October. As week later, she made a string of great saves as Tipperary defeated Dublin to book their place in the All-Ireland quarter finals where they beat Waterford. However, it was her performance in the semi-final defeat to Galway that impressed the All-Star selectors, making two outstanding saves, including one from a penalty.

Aine progressing with the county has not come as a surprise to anyone in the club where she has won Minor ‘B’ and Junior ‘A’ county titles in recent years.

“I am not surprised,” said Ger Leenane, chairperson of Shannon Rovers Camogie club. “She is so talented and always was. Talented in every sport and that is the reality. It’s great for the club and her family. A great achievement especially in her first year as senior county goalkeeper. She wasn’t called into the Tipp squad until early September. She has great ball control and a serious puckout which is massive for any camogie team. It’s a great honour.”

It helped that she had such a strong defence in front of her, including Mary Ryan and Karen Kennedy. For veteran Mary Ryan (33), it was just reward for years of perseverance having been nominated for an All-Star previously in 2010, 12, 16, 18 & 19.

“It was a surprise,” she admitted.

“There was no nominations or event but when the phone started hopping on Saturday evening that was the first I knew of it. It was a lovely award to get. It took a couple of hours and until the next day to realise what I got.

“At the end of the day we are playing a team sport and we all know the individual awards isn’t the be all and end all, the goal for us is to get to Croke Park and lift the O’Duffy Cup. I am there a while and to get an award and be recognised like that is certainly something I will be proud of.”

On the panel since 2006, the Moneygall clubwoman has seen it all in the inter-county scene and despite the lack of success that has come in her inter-county career, she remains ultra-driven to succeed, willing to play anywhere and winning an All-Star in the full-back line, a position that was largely alien to her until last year showed her class as a player.

“I spent some time at full back with UL a few years ago but I would be more used to be involved in the play,” she said.

“It was becoming a running joke among the girls that I was moving back the way towards the goals. I took on the challenge to try and understand a new position and link in with the goalie and I enjoyed it.”

Not only did Mary have to develop in a new position, but she also had a novice goalkeeper behind her in Áine Slattery and for her to win an All-Star in her first year on the panel was remarkable.

“It is a great achievement for her,” Mary said.

“She has so much potential to stay going and make a place for herself there. She was a new player and naturally enough as a team sport and even though I might be there a long time and she is a good bit younger than me; we are teammates, and you try and get that camaraderie and understanding going and making her feel comfortable in the goals as well.”

Bedding in at full back also helped when having a player of Karen Kennedy’s stature in front of her and at the age of 23 she is developing into one of the best players in the country.

“Karen came in with us a couple of years ago and even watching her at minor level she is such an athlete,” Mary said.

“She puts great time into the sport, and she has got massive potential and is still very young. I don’t expect this to be her last All-Star award either.”

While the All-Stars are individual accolades, Mary Ryan said they are recognition for the progress made by the entire panel in recent years, and a shot in the arm going into the new campaign, whenever it comes around.

“It is a long time since Tipperary have won more than one All-Star in a year so to win three is great,” she said.

“We have fallen short at the same hurdle over the last three years, but we are starting to raise our expectations. The game is constantly changing, and every team has to adapt and bring something new every year. We need to continue to do that. We felt we were going strongly last year, and we certainly did and to have three Tipp players on the All-Stars, and to have such a strong panel at the minute is very positive going forward.

2020 Senior Camogie All-Stars, sponsored by Liberty Insurance:

1 - Áine Slattery (Tipperary) – 1st

2 - Shauna Healy (Galway) – 2nd

3 - Claire Phelan (Kilkenny) – 2nd

4 - Mary Ryan (Tipperary) – 1st

5 - Hannah Looney (Cork) – 2nd

6 - Karen Kennedy (Tipperary) – 1st

7 - Davina Tobin (Kilkenny) – 1st

8 - Chloe Sigerson (Cork) – 2nd

9 - Grace Walsh (Kilkenny) – 2nd

10 - Niamh Rockett (Waterford) – 1st

11 - Orla Cronin (Cork) – 1st

12 - Denise Gaule (Kilkenny) – 4th

13 - Orlaith McGrath (Galway) – 1st

14 - Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny) – 2nd

15 - Anne Dalton (Kilkenny) – 7th

Manager of the Year: Brian Dowling (Kilkenny)

Senior Players’ Player of the Year: Denise Gaule (Kilkenny)