Given their exceptional showcases in the league, it’d be a surprise to very few that Armagh’s Aimee Mackin and Tipperary’s Eimear McGrath have been named the PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month for March in their respective Ladies Football and Camogie categories.
Sharpshooter Mackin bagged a phenomenal 3-12 during that period to clinch the Orchard County’s first LGFA Division One National League title in their history, which came, incredibly, in their first season back at the grade since 2017.
Similarly, McGrath was instrumental during The Premier County’s Camogie National League campaign this year, becoming the first county outside of Cork, Galway and Kilkenny to champion in either of the senior Camogie competitions since Wexford secured their All-Ireland three-in-a-row in 2012.
The winners of the PwC / @gaelicplayers Women’s Player of the Month & PwC @officialgaa / GPA Player of the Month for March have been announced, recognising outstanding performances from top players during the final stages of the national leagues.#PwCAllStars #PwCCamogieAllStars
— PwC Ireland (@PwCIreland) April 30, 2024
On the news, Mackin acknowledged that it “obviously nice to get recognised”, especially considering that the award is “voted by players themselves”, but quickly turned her attention to the overall team performance.
“It’s probably more based on how we performed as a team…I don’t think I read too much into [the personal accolades],” she says.
“Whoever is in the best position I think we all give the ball to them if they have an opportunity to score. Maybe sometimes I’m in that position but I think we’ve capable forwards all over, we have capable defenders coming up and scoring too, and we’ve girls who can come off the bench that can do it as well. I don’t think too much about me,” she adds.
Beating the likes of Meath, Mayo, Waterford, Galway, Cork and Kerry on that path to glory, the 27 year old credited the growing competitiveness of Ladies Gaelic Football, and how the “real fine margins” of the score-lines between the teams are testament to that.
She also spoke of how the occasion of the NFL final in Croke Park, served as an ample opportunity to give back to the supporters who had cheered them on along the way.
“The men got to the league final and they were beaten, so for us to win it it gave our supporters something to smile about and cheer about for that day,” she says.
“Obviously life can be so serious, but when you play football you forget about everything else. You can bring so much joy to other people and I think that’s a responsibility of us as players, to recognise we can have that impact on people and to take it in your stride, it’s important.
“Us as Armagh, as a county, and that’s all I can speak on behalf of, I know everyone wants to see all codes do well, whether it be men’s or women’s football, or camogie or hurling. We’re all very supportive of each other and both sets try to get going to as many games as we can, whether it be the men’s or the ladies.”
👏 Well done to Aimee Mackin from @ArmaghLGFA who has been named the PwC / @gaelicplayers Women's Football Player of the Month for March!
🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/UMWTNQECJK— PwC Ireland (@PwCIreland) April 30, 2024
With the Championship now looming, Mackin is raring to go, soaking up every moment in preparation.
“People talk about how it bypasses you so fast so I think it’s important to just enjoy it,” she says.
“Championship football is where everyone loves going to matches and watching them too, it’s the time of year you want to be playing, we’re looking forward to it and it’ll be brilliant when it comes around.”
McGrath too will be jumping at that opportunity, with Tipperary looking to "build on the success from the league."
She also credited her team's performance instead of diving too much into her individual acclaim of PwC GPA Camogie Player of the Month award.
"It’s probably a bit of a cliché but without the other girls around me it wouldn’t really be possible to win an award such as this," she says.
"I probably get the plaudits as the one getting the scores but the hard work is done out the field and I have the easy job then of finishing them off," she adds.
With that said, McGrath was paramount in the county's league victory and played a special part in what she calls a "breakthrough" moment for the team.
Tipperary, alongside Waterford with their appearance in last year's All Ireland final, are continuing to push the so called 'big three' within the sport ; Cork, Galway and Kilkenny, and to do so in this year's league final was a special moment, even more so when family connections were factored in.
"Winning the league final was definitely the highlight there. My sister is also on the panel so to get the chance to lift a cup in Croke park with her was very special for me and for my family," she says.
Alongside David Fitzgerald and Eoin McEvoy as the PwC GAA/GPA Players of the Month in hurling and football for March, Mackin and McGrath will surely be looking forward to the seize the chance at similar success very soon.
Here is your PwC / @gaelicplayers Camogie Player of the Month winner for March:
🏆 Eimear McGrath - @camogietipp 🏆
👏👏👏#PwCCamogieAllStars pic.twitter.com/zh3giXw8AM— PwC Ireland (@PwCIreland) April 30, 2024
Words of congratulations
Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner, PwC Ireland, the President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns, and GPA CEO, Tom Parsons, all took the opportunity to congratulate the nominees for their extraordinary performances throughout the month of March on receipt of their Ladies Football/ Camogie PwC GPA Player of the Month awards.
“On behalf of everyone at PwC, I want to give our warmest congratulations to Aimee, Eimear, David and Eoin on being named the March Player of the Month Winners. March saw some incredibly competitive games across the leagues, making it all the more impressive that our winners stood out with their performances,” McDonagh says.
“Each player is more than deserving of this award for their outstanding contributions to their teams in their respective finals. PwC is proud to partner with the GAA and GPA to honour players from each code equally and we wish them all the best of luck during the Championship this season,” he continues.
Burns also expressed his appreciation, citing that the consistency of the performances from Mackin, McGrath, Fitzgerald and McEvoy were “hugely important to your team and these awards will come as a surprise to few.”
“I wish you well in the weeks ahead and have no doubt you will be central to your team’s efforts to ensure a long summer. A special word of thanks to our partners PwC and the GPA for their support of awards which acknowledge individual excellence in the all-important team setting,” he adds.
Finally, Parsons joined McDonagh and Burns in extending his best wishes to the players, while also taking the time to acknowledge the continued support of PwC.
“As always, I want to thank PwC for their long-standing support of inter-county players. The partnership that has been established with PwC over the years has been invaluable. That extends beyond financial commitment. PwC have also never been slow to share their expertise and experience and also to give players opportunities to work within the organisation.”
🏆🌟 We are delighted to announce the PwC Players of the Month winners for March 2024!@PwCIreland @officialgaahttps://t.co/Cdgu6lOvlY
— GPA (@gaelicplayers) April 30, 2024
