Meath Ladies are looking forward this week to what has become the highlight of the calendar - the Annual Awards Night.

The success of this year's club championships has been unprecedented with attendance figures at this year's finals circa 3,000, the highest it has ever been.

The Awards will take place in Newgrange Hotel in Navan with proceedings kicking off at 8pm. While the usual club players of the year, club team of the year and club of the year awards will be announced, there has been two new Awards unveiled this year - the Golden Boot Award and Club Person of the Year.

In the Senior Club Championship Player of the Year category - Senior Championship winner and Player of the Match in the final, Shauna Bennett, is up against fellow team mate Aisling Marley. Oldcastle's Bridgetta Lynch who had a tremendous year as full back is also nominated alongside Boardsmill's Kealey Hannon and Seneschalstown's speedy Stacey Grimes.

In the Intermediate Club Championship Player of the Year category - Niamh Crowe from Summerhill who won the Award in 2014 has been nominated once more while Intermediate Champions Dee Rangers have two nominees in Captain Orlaith Duff and Becks Goodwin. Duff won the Player of the Match accolade on Finals day before accepting the McKeown Cup on behalf of her team mates. Royal Gael's Niamh O'Sullivan and St. Michael's team captain, Sinead McCormack have also been nominated for fine performances throughout the 2015 Championship campaign.

The Junior A category sees champions Dunboyne with two nominees. Player of the Match in the final, Aoife Thompson has been nominated alongside inspirational team captain Julie Kavanagh. Clann na nGael's goalkeeper, Aoife Lally, has been nominated for her fine performance in the campaign while Dunsany flier and dual player Megan Thynne has been nominated. St. Colmcilles reached the semi final of the Junior A Championship and their nominee inflicted huge damage on the scoreboard, Clíona Smith hitting 4-42 throughout the campaign.

Ballivor were victorious in the Junior B Championship and they have been rewarded with two nominees in the Junior B Players of the Year category - Laura Grant and Lauren McMahon. Na Fianna's Erin Leddy, Boardsmill's Hannah Kealey and Wolfe Tones goalkeeper Sinead Blaney have all been nominated after putting in sterling performances during the championship.

There are four nominees in this year's Rising Star Award. This award that seeks to reward young players and the contribution they have made to their adult teams in 2015. The players are all under 16 and have been positive influences on their adult team this year. Navan O'Mahonys Ailbhe Leahy, Simonstown's Niamh Cassidy, Donaghmore-Ashbourne's Aoibhín Cleary and Ballivor's Niamh O'Sullivan have all been nominated.

The club team of the year has six nominees this year. Royal Gaels Féile team were runners up in Division One Féile, losing out to St. Pats of Wicklow by one point in extra time. Donaghmore-Ashbourne have been nominated for their super efforts in this year's Intermediate Championship after not fielding in 2014. Each of the other team nominees won their respective Championships with St. Ultans Senior Team, Dee Rangers Intermediate Team, Dunboyne's Junior A Team and Ballivor's Junior B team all nominated.

This year's Club of the Year nominees number four clubs. Bective-Cannistown, Clann na nGael, Dunboyne and Drumbaragh have all been nominated for the sterling work they do in promoting and encouraging ladies football to be played in their catchment areas.

The inaugural Golden Boot Award will be presented on Saturday night also.

Caroline Quinn will be taking home the Junior B Award after the Boardsmill sharp shooter amassed 13-32 (71) in the Junior B Championship.

Dunboyne's Vikki Wall has taken the Golden Boot with the County Minor totalling 8-40 (64) in the Junior A Championship. The Dunboyne forward will be hoping to take her scoring boots into the All Ireland club semi-final next Sunday 22nd at 1.30, as they take on Galway Champions Maigh Cuilinn in Moycullen, Galway.

The Intermediate Golden Boot is heading to Summerhill with Niamh Crowe kicking 6-37 (55) in total which was just enough to see her outscore finalists Dee Rangers and St. Michaels.

Oldcastle will have been disappointed not to win this year's Coca-Cola Senior Championship, however they did win this year's Golden Boot with corner forward Sarah O'Reilly taking top honours - amassing an incredible 9-44 (71) including a fabulous semi-final performance against Seneschalstown where Sarah finished with a tally of 3-05.

This year, Meath Ladies sought to acknowledge the hard work of volunteers within ladies clubs in the county. Each club was asked to put forward a nominee and the public were asked to vote on who they thought should win the coveted title of Club Person of the Year. Seventeen nominees representing seventeen different clubs in the county went to public vote. After a frenzied week and an incredible 3,268 votes cast, there were only three votes separating first and second place. Dee Rangers Shauna Sweeney (nee Rowe) was victorious - winning 12.67% of the vote! Dee Rangers nominated Shauna as they felt there was no job too big or too small for Shauna. As a player, Shauna has given it all for her club both on and off the pitch and has spent considerable time promoting ladies football - from organising signs and flags to creating match programmes for the club's home games to starring in centre back for her team in the Championship and the League where Dee Rangers were victorious in both.

Clichéd as it sounds, all seventeen nominees are worthy winners - their time and dedication to promoting ladies football is crucial to the success of the sport - not just at club level but also at county and indeed nationally. We are indebted to these people who sacrifice so much of their own time for the game. Thanks to everyone for voting.

Saturday night's Awards Night will also celebrate the success of the Meath Minor team as they collect their Leinster Championship winning medals.

The 2015 Hall of Fame accolade will also be announced while celebration and festivity is the order of the evening!

To book a ticket (€20) to the celebration please message the Meath Ladies Facebook page - Meath LGFA or contact any member of the Executive. We are looking forward to another great night!

The 2015 Nominees are as follows;

Senior Club Championship Player of the Year Nominees 2015

Aisling Marley (St. Ultans)
Bridgetta Lynch (Oldcastle)
Kealey Hannon (Boardsmill)
Shauna Bennett (St. Ultans)
Stacey Grimes (Seneschalstown)
 

Intermediate Club Championship Player of the Year Nominees 2015

Niamh Crowe (Summerhill)
Niamh O'Sullivan (Royal Gaels)
Orlaith Duff (Dee Rangers)
Rebecca Goodwin (Dee Rangers)
Sinead McCormack (St. Michaels)

Junior A Club Championship Player of the Year Nominees 2015

Aoife Lally (Clann na nGael)
Aoife Thompson (Dunboyne)
Clíona Smith (St. Colmcilles)
Julie Kavanagh (Dunboyne)
Megan Thynne (Dunsany)

Junior B Club Championship Player of the Year Nominees 2015

Erin Leddy (Na Fianna)
Hannah Kealey (Boardsmill)
Laura Grant (Ballivor)
Lauren McMahon (Ballivor)
Sinead Blaney (Wolfe Tones)

Club Team of the Year Nominees 2015

Ballivor Junior B Team
Dee Rangers Intermediate Team
Donaghmore-Ashbourne Intermediate Team
Dunboyne Junior A Team
Royal Gaels Féile Team
St. Ultans Senior Team

Club of the Year Nominees 2015

Bective
Clann na nGael
Drumbaragh
Dunboyne

Rising Star Award Nominees 2015

Ailbhe Leahy (Navan O'Mahonys)
Aoibhín Cleary (Donaghmore-Ashbourne)
Niamh Cassidy (Simonstown)
Niamh O'Sullivan (Ballivor)

Golden Boot Award Winners 2015

Senior - Sarah O'Reilly (Oldcastle)
Intermediate - Niamh Crowe (Summerhill)
Junior A - Vikki Wall (Dunboyne)
Junior B - Caroline Quinn (Boardsmill)

Club Person of the Year 2015

Shauna Sweeney (nee Rowe - Dee Rangers)

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