DOWN sharpshooter Natasha Ferris was named the 2023 Junior Players’ Player of the Year at the TG4 Allstar banquet in Dublin on Saturday night.
Ferris finished top scorer in the junior championship, scoring 7-31 as Down won the All-Ireland title and narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot award as overall top-scorer across all three competitions.
Ferris was chosen ahead of Fermanagh’s Blaithin Bogue, who won the accolade last year, and Limerick’s Roisin Ambrose.
It was the icing on the cake for the Bryansford player, capping a memorable year in which she was also named on the Junior Team of the Year.
“I was delighted when my name was called out as Players’ Player of the Year. It was a proud moment for my wife Amy, my family and my club Bryansford, I wouldn’t have achieved this without them. It was a lovely way to finish off the season after winning the All-Ireland back in August,” said Ferris.
“I think the award was made more special as it was voted by players I’ve played against this year. The two other girls nominated Blaithin and Roisin are top players, I wouldn’t have been too disappointed losing out to either of them,” she added.
There were no Allstar gongs for any of the six Ulster nominees as All-Ireland champions Dublin and runners-up Kerry dominated.
Dublin took eight, their best return ever, and Kerry picked up five with Mayo and Cork taking home one apiece.
TG4 2023 Allstars
Abby Shiels (Dublin); Eilis Lynch (Kerry), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Lauren Magee (Dublin); Martha Byrne (Dublin), Cait Lynch (Kerry), Jennifer Dunne (Dublin), Lorraine Scanlon (Kerry), Niamh Carmody (Kerry), Orlagh Nolan (Dublin), Ciara O’Sullivan (Cork), Hannah Tyrrell (Dublin), Carla Rowe (Dublin), Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry)
