Prestigious rugby award for Offaly woman

AN Offaly woman has won a prestigious rugby award. Aoife Dalton was honoured as the Leinster Womens' Young Player of the Year at Leinster Rugby's annual awards ball in Dublin's Burlington Hotel at the weekend.

A member of Tullamore Rugby Club, Clara woman Dalton has made great progress in recent years and has won six caps for Ireland.

Dalton also received recognition at the Rugby Players Ireland awards a week earlier. The 2023 iZest Marketing Women’s XVs Young Player of The Year was awarded to Leinster’s Aoife Dalton with AIB Corporate Banking Women’s XVs Try of the Year being awarded to Ireland Captain Nichola Fryday  for her score against Scotland in this year’s TikTok Six Nations. Kilcormac woman Fryday was also nominated for the players' player of the year but that award went to Neve Jones.

Leinster Rugby Awards 2023

Best Menswear Development School of the Year: St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise

JUST EAT Tackle of the Year: Liam Turner

Beauchamps School of the Year: Gonzaga College

Nissan Ireland Contribution to Leinster Rugby: Rachael O’Brien (Co Carlow FC)

The Irish Times Try of the Year: Garry Ringrose (v Racing 92)

DigitalWell Junior Club of the Year: Mullingar RFC

Energia Senior Club of the Year: Old Belvedere RFC

BDO Supporters Player of the Year: Garry Ringrose

Guinness Hall of Fame: Gerry Murphy

BearingPoint Women’s Young Player of the Year: Aoife Dalton

Laya Healthcare Men’s Young Player of the Year: Scott Penny

Band of Ireland Women’s Player of the Year: Jenny Murphy

Bank of Ireland Men’s Player of the Year: Caelan Doris