Our Lady’s Secondary School excellent record in the Ulster Ladies Colleges All Star Awards scheme continued on Thursday October 25th when it was announced that two girls from the school, Jennifer Duffy and Jayne Drury were selected on the Ulster Ladies All Star team for 2018 / 2019. This brings the total number of Ladies All Star Awards in the school to seventeen in seven years – an extremely impressive record by any schools standards.

The two girls were among five girls selected by the school to attend an initial trial in Cookstown where over 130 girls from across the province attended. Both girls impressed the selectors present to be invited back to the second trial on October 24th that was attended by 60 players. The school community was delighted when it was announced that both girls were selected as representatives on this year’s Ulster Ladies Colleges All Star team.

This is the second year in a row that Jennifer & Jayne have been selected on the Ulster Colleges All Star team following in the footsteps of previous dual All Star winners Niamh Kerr, Muireann Atkinson & Niamh Callan. Jennifer is the daughter of Mick & Patricia Duffy from Carrickaderry, Clontibret and she plays her club football with O’ Neill Shamrocks. Jayne is the daughter of Stephen & Marie Drury from Ballybay and plays her club football with the St. Brigid’s Club in Ballybay. The two girls will receive their awards at a special ceremony in Kelly’s Inn Ballygawley after Christmas and will train with the Ulster All Star panel in the coming weeks in preparation for the Interprovincial tournament in Kinnegan, Westmeath in January.

These awards come as a timely boost to the Senior Girls GAA team who have made a promising start to their Ulster ‘A’ campaign. Speaking at the school during the week the Principal Mr Kelly congratulated both girls on their outstanding achievement ‘for a school to have one Ulster Colleges All Star in any year is a fantastic achievement but to have two representatives on the team in one year, and for both girls to receive back to back All Stars is a huge honour and one of which we are very proud. Both girls have been and continue to be excellent ambassadors for Gaelic Games in the school and are great role models for their peers and for the younger students in the school. I am delighted that the commitment and dedication that we see on a daily basis has been recognized at provincial level and I have no doubt that with continued hard work and application both girls have great futures ahead of them in Gaelic Games. I would like to pay particular tribute to their coaches Mr Graham, Ms O’Keeffe & Mr. Nolan for the fantastic work they are doing with the girls and indeed all our GAA coaches who give so generously of their time to help our students develop and display their talents and skills in Ulster Colleges football. The high level of success we have enjoyed in GAA and the number of All Star Awards for boys and girls is a testimony to the great work by all teachers involved in coaching & promoting Gaelic Games in our school’. For the record the fifteen All Stars since 2012 are as follows:

* 2018 / 2019: Jennifer Duffy & Jayne Drury

* 2017 / 2018: Niamh Kerr, Jennifer Duffy & Jayne Drury

* 2016 / 2017: Aisling Callan & Niamh Kerr

* 2015 / 2016:Muireann Atkinson, Celine Nally, Orlaith Maguire & Eimear Finnegan

* 2014 / 2015: Muireann Atkinson & Niamh Callan

* 2013 / 2014: Aoife Duffy, Niamh Callan & Muireann Atkinson

* 2012 / 2013: Emma Mc Kenna