MOTHERLY LOVE Bridie Howley accepted a TG4-LGFA All Star award on behalf of her daughter Shauna Howley of Mayo from Ard Stiúrthóir TG4 Alan Esslemont (left), and President of the LGFA Mícheál Naughton during last weekend’s All Star awards banquet. Pic: Sportsfile
Oisín McGovern
THE MAYO ladies made it two out of five as Knockmore’s Shauna Howley and Castlebar Mitchels’ Danielle Caldwell were honoured at the annual LGFA All Star awards last weekend.
The duo collected their first All-Star awards in recognition of their efforts in getting Mayo to a second All-Ireland semi-final in a row.
Mayo captain Kathryn Sullivan and Kilmovee sisters Lisa and Sinéad Cafferky also received All-Star nominations.
Speaking to The Mayo News from Thailand — where she is currently on holidays — Howley admitted that she was ‘completely shocked’ to receive the award.
The 25-year-old attacker kicked 0-22 for Mayo in the 2022 championship, which saw them beat a fancied Cork side in the last eight before losing out to Kerry in the semi-finals.
“It was night time here when the awards was on so I woke up…to a phone call off my older sister Lisa at 6am. She was ringing me and she told me the news and I was completely shocked. It didn’t feel real at all. I just thought I was dreaming!
“I’m not a person who enjoys attention. I always try and shy away best I can so, no, it’s not something I’d ever have imagined receiving. It’s an absolute honour, but not in a million years would I have thought that I’d be winning an All-Star.”
Howley was unable to attend the awards ceremony in person as she is currently travelling with friends in Thailand.
In her absence, her All-Star was accepted by her mother, Bridie.
“I was incredibly lucky that both my parents were there on the night to represent me. They’ve given me so many opportunities in life and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” she said.
“I suppose in my eyes my parents are the real All-Stars, so it was nice to honour them and have them there on the night to collect the trophy.”
Howley had glowing praise for her Mayo team-mate and fellow award winner Danielle Caldwell, who was named at corner-back on the All-Star team.
“Dani’ is an absolute star. She probably should have gotten one a few years ago. I’m absolutely delighted for her, she deserves it.
“I spoke to her the night of the All-Stars and we were only discussing how we started our underage career together and came onto the senior panel around the same time.
“So it would have been nice to have been there on Saturday night with her, but I’m sure we’ll catch up and celebrate too.
“With Dani, it has to be her burst of speed,” she said, when asked to sum up Caldwell’s best quality. “She’s the fastest one amongst the Mayo team so once she goes off there’s no-one catching her.”
Howley described her fellow Mayo team-mates Kathryn Sullivan, Lisa Cafferkey and Sinead Caffkerty as ‘incredibly unlucky’ not to receive All-Star awards.
“They are extremely talented athletes and are incredibly skillful and hard working. No doubt they will be disappointed, but I guess we’re very lucky in Mayo that our team is very team focused.
“We’re very lucky in Mayo that any player that does represent Mayo that they come in with the mindset that it’s ‘team first’ and there’s no ‘I’ in team,” she added.
“I think that just adds to our success too.”
Mayo ladies double up at All Stars
