LAST night’s online production replaced the glitz and glamour of the annual ballroom gala as the expanded Irish News Allstars enhanced its reputation as a key event in the Ulster GAA calendar.
After a record-breaking response by Irish News readers it was the Cavan footballers, Antrim hurlers, Down camogs and Armagh ladies who dominated the four teams which were announced while Donegal, Fermanagh and Monaghan also had representatives on the star-studded sides across four codes.
“It is striking that a year in which we could easily have had no inter-county Championships eventually produced the largest overall vote in the history of the Ulster Allstars,” reflected Irish News editor Noel Doran.
‘’The response demonstrated the crucial role of the GAA during the pandemic and I'm very grateful that readers supported the expansion of our event in such huge numbers across all four codes.'’
Mickey Graham’s Cavan caught the public imagination in the Ulster Senior Football Championship with a series of heart-stopping victories that took them to their first provincial title since 1997. Cavan’s efforts were rewarded with a stunning return of 12 Allstar selections.
Antrim were even more dominant in the hurling Allstars team. The team selected by Irish News readers is made up entirely of Darren Gleeson’s Joe McDonagh Cup-winning Glensmen who saw off Kerry in the final at Croke Park.
The Down camogs were also All-Ireland champions last year. The Mournewomen’s victory in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship was recognised with a haul of 12 Allstars picks. Beaten finalists Antrim and All-Ireland Junior Championship winners Armagh provided the other members of the 2020 side.
Elsewhere, the Armagh Ladies’ footballers lost out narrowly to eventual winners Dublin at the All-Ireland semi-final stage but they bounced back to capture the Ulster title and 11 Orchard County players feature on the ladies’ football selection alongside two each from Monaghan and Fermanagh.
Irish News Sports Editor Thomas Hawkins paid tribute to the 60 deserving Allstar winners who did so much to entertain and inspire supporters in a difficult year.
‘’I hope everyone enjoyed our virtual awards event last night and congratulations to our Irish News Ulster Allstar award winners, our nominees and to all the GAA players of 2020 across these four codes,” he said.
‘’You have all inspired us with your efforts and skills and your tenacity to keep the games going.
‘‘As we grapple with the fallout from this terrible Covid pandemic, sport is so important to all our families and communities.
‘’The GAA club and inter-county championships were truly exceptional in 2020, they helped lift us out of the despair and gave us some sense of normality and hope.
‘’This year for the first time, in a unique initiative, we invited readers to select their Ulster Allstar teams in football, ladies football, camogie and hurling.
‘’The response we got back was fantastic and it underlines the great passion that is inherent across all GAA codes. Long may it continue, long may it thrive.’’
Last night’s successful streaming event was conceived and produced by Irish News Marketing manager John Brolly, who added: ‘’We were delighted to stream our Irish News Allstars awards last night to acknowledge the superb players we have in camogie, hurling, ladies and men’s football.
‘’It was the first time we ever asked the GAA public to vote for all codes and the response was incredible.
‘’Congratulations to the Irish News Allstars but also thank you to every player that pulled on a jersey to allow our games to happen.’’
