It was a night to celebrate for Donegal last night at the Irish News Ulster All-Star Awards.
Donegal players Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Michael Murphy and Ryan McHugh were named as Ulster All-Stars, while the Donegal senior ladies picked up the Ladies Football Excellence Award and the Donegal senior hurlers wee named as Hurling Excellence Award winners.
The three Donegal players were also this week confirmed as nominees for GAA/GPA All-Star Awards.
Gallagher was named in the Irish News team for the first time, while McHugh was picking up a fourth Ulster All-Star and Donegal captain Murphy collected an award for the sixth time.
Gallagher was named at half-back, Murphy was included at midfield with McHugh getting in at half-forward.
The awards were presented at a black-tie function in the Armagh City Hotel.
Donegal’s senior hurlers won the Nicky Rackard Cup this summer, defeating Warwickshire in the Croke Park final.
It was a year to remember, too, for the Donegal senior ladies, who won the Ulster senior title and reached an All-Ireland semi-final.
The Irish News honoured the Ulster All-Stars of 1998, a team that included Donegal men Damian Diver, Jim McGuinness, Tony Boyle and Brendan Devenney.
2018 Irish News Ulster All-Stars: Rory Began (Monaghan); Padraig Hampsey (Tyrone), Drew Wylie (Monaghan), Ryan Wylie (Monaghan); Eoghan Ban Gallagher (Donegal), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan); Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone), Michael Murphy (Donegal); Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Ryan McAnespie (Monaghan), Niall Sludden (Tyrone); Conor McAliskey (Tyrone), Sean Quigley (Fermanagh), Conor McManus (Monaghan).
