The Evening Echo sports awards will feature the best female athletes on Leeside
Phil Healy, athletics: Healy has set personal bests in the 200-metre and 400-metre events since a move to train and attend college in Waterford. After excelling in the European Indoor meet, her favourite discipline is the Outdoor Championships.
Margaret Cremen, rowing: She is another Cork rower who is combining local and international achievement. Cremen captured the Cork Sculling Ladder for three years in a row, as well as medalling for her country.
Nathalie O’Brien, soccer: This soccer ace was an FAI Cup winner with Cork City Women’s FC last season and represented Ireland with distinction in 2018.
She’s the most recognisable camogie player in the country, down to her unique style and exploits for Milford and the Rebels, as well as her role as an advocate for positive mental health.
Melissa Duggan, ladies football: The Dohenys dynamo was the Player of the Match when Cork defeated Kerry in the Munster final at CIT, after nailing down a place at senior level with the ladies footballers since being called up in 2016.
Sanita Puspure, rowing: It was second occasion rower Puspure, who is based in Ballincollig and trains at the National Rowing Centre nearby, won an Evening Echo award. Recently she collected a silver medal at World Cup I in Belgrade and will be a leading contender come the next Olympics.
Saoirse McCarthy, camogie: Cork won the minor, intermediate and senior camogie All-Irelands this season and Saoirse McCarthy was involved in all three, as well as picking up Player of the Match in the minor and intermediate deciders. For good measure, she won a soccer league title underage with Wilton.
Leanne Murphy, boxing: The Togher boxing club youngster was selected after landing two All-Ireland titles and beating England in her first international appearance in England.
Laura Lynch, soccer: The Wilton player was the key performer when the southsiders captured the FAI Intermediate Cup.
Yvonne O’Byrne and Roisin Upton, hockey: This talented duo played their part for the Irish side that upset the odds by reaching the World Cup final
Doireann O'Sullivan, ladies football: One of a talented group of sisters from Mourneabbey, the brilliant forward was in the form of her life in 2018, especially in firing her club to a first senior All-Ireland.
Lizzie Lee, athletics: A previous overall winner of the Evening Echo award and maintained her impeccably high standards last year. Highlights included crossing the line first in the Dublin Mini Marathon and capturing the national women's marathon title and finishing third overall.
