This year’s award winner has been kicking football with Clann since she was five years old and has represented the club at all age groups right up to and including senior level. She has played a strong part in the Clann na nGael dominance of underage ladies’ football in Roscommon recently by winning titles at U12, U14, U16 and minor level.

Not only noted as an outstanding player, her personality and leadership qualities also came to the fore during her underage career. She has been vocal and dominant, and it is this leadership and dedication that makes her stand out from the rest in 2020.

Although the minor championship did not take place in 2020 due to the pandemic , she stepped into the breach at senior level and played in a number of positions on the team as injuries took its toll on the panel, but it was when the call came from the side-lines for the position of keeper (due to a goalkeeping crisis)  , she did not hesitate to answer the call and proved to be a valuable asset to the team for the championship.

When famously asked one evening after a game "Why did you not hesitate to go into goals?" she answered with her typical wit "I will do it for the team",  a reply that probably goes a long way to sum up the great traits that our winner possesses. It also shows her versatility, and she can play in a numerous number of positions across the backline and in goals

Still eligible for U19 level this year, she also continues to show her outstanding underage promise in the Senior and Junior ranks and will be a huge asset to our adult squads going forward. As she completes her Leaving cert, we wish her well in her academic career and continue to look forward to watching this tremendous talent flourish at adult level and wish her well in her college, club and wherever else her career takes her in the future.

The Clann na nGael Ladies Minor Player of the Year 2020 and recipient of the Lisa Dolan memorial trophy is:

   Aoife O’Neill