Champions Cork Dominate 2026 Camogie All-Stars with 14 Nominations as Amy O'Connor Leads Forwards
All-Ireland senior camogie champions Cork have secured 14 nominations on the 2026 PwC All-Star shortlist — the largest allocation for any county — as the Leesiders' historic season receives the recognition it deserves, with beaten finalists Galway receiving 10 nominations and the Player of the Year shortlist featuring two Cork players alongside Galway's Carrie Dolan.
Background
Cork's 2026 All-Ireland senior camogie championship campaign was one of the most complete performances the game has seen in recent years. From the opening rounds of the provincial championship through to the All-Ireland final, the Leesiders demonstrated a depth of talent, tactical sophistication, and collective commitment that set them apart from every other county in the country. Their victory in the All-Ireland final — against a Galway side that had themselves been impressive throughout the championship — was the culmination of a multi-year development programme that has transformed Cork camogie from a perennial contender into the dominant force in the game.
The PwC All-Stars are the most prestigious individual awards in camogie, selected by a panel of journalists and former players who assess performances across the entire championship season. The nominations process involves the identification of the three best performers in each position across the season, with the final selection made from those shortlists. A county's dominance of the nominations is therefore a reflection not just of their team success but of the individual excellence of their players across multiple positions.
Cork's 14 nominations span every line of the field, from goalkeeper Amy Lee — who was outstanding throughout the championship — to the forward line, where Amy O'Connor, Orlaith Cahalane, Millie Condon, Saoirse McCarthy, Sorcha McCartan, and Emma Murphy have all been recognised. The breadth of the nominations reflects the collective nature of Cork's success: this is not a team built around one or two exceptional individuals but a squad in which excellence is distributed across the entire fifteen.
Key Developments
The full nominations list sees Cork represented in every line. In goal, Amy Lee is nominated alongside Galway's Sarah Healy and Kilkenny's Aoife Norris. The Cork backs nominated include Méabh Cahalane, Libby Coppinger, Ava Fitzgerald, Méabh Murphy, Izzy O'Regan, and Isobel Sheehan — a remarkable six nominations from the defensive unit alone, reflecting the solidity that underpinned Cork's championship run. Laura Hayes is nominated at midfield, while the forward nominations include Amy O'Connor, Orlaith Cahalane, Millie Condon, Saoirse McCarthy, Sorcha McCartan, and Emma Murphy.
Galway's 10 nominations reflect the quality of a side that pushed Cork all the way to the final. Goalkeeper Sarah Healy, backs Róisín Black, Ciara Hickey, and Dervla Higgins, midfielders Carrie Dolan and Ally Hesnan, and forwards Aoife Donohue, Caoimhe Kelly, Niamh McPeake, and Niamh Niland have all been recognised. Kilkenny's six nominations include goalkeeper Aoife Norris, backs Niamh Deely and Ava Brett, midfielders Laura Greene and Laura Murphy, and forward Sarah Barcoe. Tipperary received four nominations, Clare one, and Waterford one — the latter going to Beth Carton, who has been one of the most consistent performers in the game over the past three seasons.
The Player of the Year shortlist is dominated by Cork, with Laura Hayes and Sorcha McCartan both nominated alongside Galway's Carrie Dolan. Hayes, who has been one of the most influential midfielders in the game for the past five seasons, is widely regarded as the frontrunner, though Dolan's performances for Galway throughout the championship have made her a credible challenger.
Why It Matters
The 2026 All-Stars nominations are a reflection of the health of camogie as a sport and of the competitive balance — or lack thereof — at the top of the game. Cork's dominance of the nominations is a reminder that the gap between the leading counties and the rest of the field remains significant, despite the efforts of the Camogie Association to develop the game in counties that have historically been less competitive. The nominations also highlight the depth of talent available to Cork, which has been able to sustain its dominance despite the retirement of several key players from the previous generation.
For the players nominated, the All-Stars represent the highest individual recognition available in the game, and the announcement of the final selections at the Croke Park banquet in November is one of the most anticipated events in the camogie calendar. The awards also serve a commercial function, raising the profile of the sport and attracting sponsorship and media attention that benefits the game at all levels.
Local Impact
In Cork, the nominations have been greeted with pride and satisfaction by a county that has invested heavily in the development of camogie at club and county level. The Cork county board has been praised for its long-term approach to player development, and the nominations are seen as a vindication of that investment. In the clubs that have contributed players to the county panel — including Sarsfields, Inniscarra, Milford, and others — the nominations are a source of enormous local pride. The All-Ireland final victory and the subsequent All-Stars recognition have also boosted participation in camogie at underage level across Cork, with clubs reporting increased numbers of girls taking up the sport in the months since the championship.
What's Next
The final All-Star selections will be announced at the PwC Camogie All-Stars banquet at Croke Park on 21 November 2026. The Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and Manager of the Year awards will also be presented at the ceremony. The Intermediate and Premier Junior All-Stars will be announced at the same event. Cork's players and management will attend the banquet as the defending All-Ireland champions, and the occasion will provide an opportunity to celebrate a season that has been one of the most successful in the county's camogie history.
