*Niamh O’Dea in action for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Kilfenora’s Niamh O’Dea has been shortlisted for the TG4 intermediate ladies football player of the year.
O’Dea is nominated alongside Sarah Dillon and Lucy McCartan, both of Westmeath. The winner to be announced at the 2021 TG4 All-Star Awards Banquet, in association with Lidl, which will be held at Dublin’s Bonnington Hotel on Saturday, November 13.
Currently out of action with a fractured foot, Niamh’s inclusion in the list despite Clare’s exit at the quarter-final stage is proof of the regard in which she is held by her opponents across the country. Nominees in each category were selected by their fellow players, who could not vote for their own team-mates.
She finished the year with a personal tally of 3-13 and combined this with her commitments to the county camogie side. A secondary school teacher in St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon, Niamh plays her club football with Banner Ladies and camogie with Kilmaley.
Sarah Dillon was Player of the Match for Westmeath in the All-Ireland Final victory over Wexford, and the Intermediate grade’s top scorer in 2021, and she’s nominated alongside team-mate Lucy McCartan. Dillon led the way with 1-6 in the Final, while McCartan chipped in with 1-1 on September 5 against Wexford.
TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Award Nominees
Emma Duggan (Meath)*
Emma Troy (Meath)*
Vikki Wall (Meath)*
TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year Award Nominees
Sarah Dillon (Westmeath)
Lucy McCartan (Westmeath)
Niamh O’Dea (Clare)
TG4 Junior Players’ Player of the Year Award Nominees
Marie Kealy (Wicklow)
Gráinne McLaughlin (Antrim)
Clíodhna Ní Shé (Carlow)
