Offaly rugby star picks up top award after impressive year for Ireland

AN Offaly rugby star has won a big award, putting the icing on the cake of a super year for her.

Tadhg Beirne and Aoife Dalton were announced as the Men’s and Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award winners at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards ceremony, which was held in the Aviva Stadium this week.

Clara woman Dalton was presented with the OCC Consulting Women’s 15s Players’ Player of the Year award following a hugely impactful 2024/25 season in Ireland’s midfield.

At just 22, the Leinster and Ireland star has already established herself as a key player for Scott Bemand’s charges who are set to up the ante ahead of the Rugby World Cup in England later this year.

Reacting to her senior award win, centre, Dalton, who was the Young Player of the Year in 2023 and was selected on the 6 Nations team of the year this season, said: “It’s a very exciting time to be involved with this group of players. To be recognised by them at such a crucial time for this team is hard to put into words.

“When I first came into camp, I could sense that something was beginning to build, and I think we have started to see the fruits of that over recent months both collectively and individually ... , Amee-Leigh (Costigan), Niamh (O’Dowd), and Dorothy (Wall).”

2025 RUGBY PLAYERS IRELAND AWARDS – LIST OF WINNERS:

OCC Consulting Men’s 15s Players’ Player of the Year

Tadhg Beirne

Nominees: Caelan Doris, Tom Farrell, Jamison Gibson-Park

OCC Consulting Women’s 15s Players’ Player of the Year

Aoife Dalton

Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Niamh O’Dowd, Dorothy Wall

Nevin Spence Men’s 15s Young Player of the Year

Sam Prendergast

Nominees: Gus McCarthy, Ben Murphy

Energia Ireland Women’s 15s Young Player of the Year

Erin King

Nominees: Ruth Campbell, Aoife Dalton

MSL Mercedes-Benz Ballsbridge Men’s 15s Try of the Year

Dan Sheehan (Ireland v England)

Nominees: Stewart Moore (Ulster v DHL Stormers), Dan Sheehan (Leinster v Ulster)

AIB Corporate Banking Women’s 15s Try of the Year

Anna McGann (Ireland v Italy)

Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan (Ireland v England), Linda Djougang (Ireland v Wales)

TritonLake Men’s Sevens Players’ Player of the Year

Dylan O’Grady

Nominees: Niall Comerford, Mark Roche

TritonLake Women’s Sevens Players’ Player of the Year

Lucinda Kinghan

Nominees: Hannah Clarke, Kate Farrell McCabe

Zurich Contribution To Irish Society Award

Eimear Considine

Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Moment of the Year

Ireland’s Triple Crown success – accepted by Caelan Doris