Leitrim’s Ailbhe Clancy and Galway’s Aoife Donohue have claimed the PwC GPA Players of the Month for August in football and camogie with the finals of both codes taking place last month.
PwC are proud sponsors of the Player of the Month awards across camogie, hurling and football, both men’s and women’s. The July and August awards recognise the country’s outstanding players during the later stages of this year’s All-Ireland championships including the respective finals.
Corner forward Ailbhe Clancy scored 2-3 in an inspired All-Ireland final performance which helped Leitrim win their first intermediate football title since 2007. Surviving a late Tyrone comeback to win 3-11 to 3-10, she produced the standout performance across all the Ladies football finals, and one that she reflects on, along with the rest of the season, with immense pride. "It's been an incredible, incredible journey this year with ups and downs. But to be there in the last day of the season, it's been amazing."
While next year is a while a way yet, the ambition is already there amongst Ailbhe to work towards the Leitrim side making their mark on the upcoming season. "You want to challenge yourself again and obviously, look, we know Galway and Mayo, the senior footballers are incredible, incredible teams. But we're not going there to make up numbers either. You know, we want to push on and drive on the momentum that we have now. So I'm just excited to get out and play against the likes of those teams."
🥁 It is now time for August's winners...
Ailbhe Clancy from @LeitrimLGFA has been crowned the PwC / @gaelicplayers Women's Football Player of the Month for August! 🏅
Congratulations Ailbhe! pic.twitter.com/IDLyfgvHeS— PwC Ireland (@PwCIreland) August 15, 2024
Aoife Donohue’s four points from play against Cork helped Galway push the reigning champions all the way in the All-Ireland senior camogie final. However, her team were edged 1-16 to 0-16 in front of 27,811 fans at Croke Park. While it wasn't to be this year for her team, there is still plenty to be proud of from Galway's season, and plenty to work towards next year. "It didn’t end the way we would have hoped it would have ended. But, you know, we're very proud of the performance and the way the year went. We were obviously very disappointed after the match, and I suppose emotions and that will be kind of high. So I don't think you can really think about it too much after the match. You just kind of have to, you know, take time out and think for ourselves, and get back to our clubs, and then we'll go again next year. That'll be the goal."
And finally, it is Aoife Donohue from @GalwayCamogie96 who takes the PwC / @gaelicplayers Player of the Month for August! 🏅
🌟 Well done Aoife 🌟#PwCCamogieAllStars pic.twitter.com/h8whtWJ1uW— PwC Ireland (@PwCIreland) August 15, 2024
Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner, PwC Ireland, said: “July and August have provided displays of sporting excellence across all codes. These months saw the much-anticipated All-Ireland knockout stages, culminating in the All-Ireland finals. It is a huge achievement to be a part of such momentous occasions and each one of our six winners should be immensely proud of their achievements. PwC is honoured to partner with the GAA and GPA to support players from all codes and on behalf of everyone at PwC, I would like to give our warmest congratulations to Nicola, Dervla, Tony, Paul, Ailbhe, and Aoife on being named the July and August Player of the Month award winners.”
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Jarlath Burns said: “It gives me great pleasure to highlight the quality of the individual performances of some of Gaelic games' finest players during the months of July and August. The stand out performers for August were deemed to be Leitrim's Ailbhe Clancy (LGFA) and Aoife Donohue of Galway (Camogie) after their final appearances. Well done to all of the awards winners. Being honoured by your peers is very special and thanks to the GPA and PwC for their partnership in this scheme.”
GPA CEO Tom Parsons said; “When the season gets to the business end of proceedings the question becomes who can perform when the pressure is on? That is why picking up one of these awards is even more special at this time of the year. It shows these players have stood up and been counted when it mattered most. That is something to be very proud of.
To Dervla, Nicola, Paul, Tony, Ailbhe and Aoife, massive congratulations. For some of you this is the icing on the cake, for others, some small consolation for not having the medal you wanted at the end of the season. Good luck now as you return to your clubs.
Our thanks as always to the GAA for your ongoing partnership in these awards and to PwC who have been a long term friend of inter-county players and employ many GPA members.”
The PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month and PwC GAA/GPA Players of the Month Award winners are voted for by the GPA’s membership.
