Galway's Nicola Ward and Dervla Higgins are the July winners of the PwC GPA Player of the Month awards for ladies football and camogie with Clare’s Tony Kelly and Galway’s Paul Conroy named the PwC GAA/GPA hurler and footballer of the month.
Leitrim’s Ailbhe Clancy and Galway’s Aoife Donohue have also won the GPA Players of the Month for August in football and camogie with the finals of both codes taking place this month.
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.
Defender Ward’s inspirational performances against reigning champions Dublin and Cork were key to Galway’s run to the All-Ireland football final. The July award recognises those two commanding displays from centre half-back.
Galway camogie defender Higgins’ late heroics against Waterford and Tipperary were the difference as the Tribe County reached a first All-Ireland final since 2021.
Kelly scored three points in Clare’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final victory over Kilkenny, before putting in a star performance in a final for the ages against Cork. The Clare captain scored 1-04, with his goal a particular highlight worthy of the biggest stage.
Galway midfielder Conroy played a pivotal role in the All-Ireland football semi-final win against Donegal, pulling the strings and winning primary possession as the Tribesmen came out on top in a close-fought game. Conroy again put in an exceptional performance in the final against Armagh in July, scoring three points from play.
Corner-forward Clancy scored 2-03 in an inspired All-Ireland final performance which helped Leitrim win their first intermediate football title since 2007.
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 out 1-16 to 0-16 in front of 27,811 fans at Croke Park.
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...well done to all of the awards winners. Being honoured by your peers is very special."
The award winners are voted for by the GPA’s membership.
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