Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ORCHARD STAR TAKES HONOUR
ARMAGH forward Aimee Mackin has been crowned TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year for 2020.
Mackin (23) was voted best in class by her peers, with the Shane O’neills player fending off stiff competition from Dublin duo Carla Rowe and Sinead Goldrick to claim the coveted individual award.
Mackin recovered from cruciate knee ligament damage sustained against Cork in 2019 to make a sensational impact during the 2020 Championship.
She scored 1-6 in the TG4 All-ireland Senior Championship opener against Tyrone, before a 2-7 haul helped Armagh past Mayo and into a first semi-final appearance since 2015.
Armagh fell at the penultimate hurdle against eventual champions Dublin, but Mackin lit up Kingspan Breffni with an excellent display, registering 2-4 in defeat to bring her Championship haul to 5-17 from three outings.
And it was a show to remember for Mackin, who was also named on the Senior Team of the Championship, while her sensational second half semi-final goal against Dublin earned the lethal attacker the AIG Cúl na Bliana award (Goal of the Year).
Vikki Wall was named as the TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year following a brilliant season for the Royals.
The Dunboyne player (22) was the Player of the Match from the IFC decider, as Meath, beaten finalists in 2019 and 2018, defeated Leinster rivals Westmeath.
The junior accolade went to Fermanagh’s 20-year-old forward Eimear Smyth for the second successive year.
On the senior team of the year selection, Dublin lead the way with six players included, with beaten finalists Cork providing four players on the chosen 15.
Armagh’s stunning Championship impact is rewarded with three players named on the selection – including Player of the Year Aimee Mackin and her sister, Blaithin.