Donegal’s Geraldine McLaughlin wins Player of the Month award

Donegal forward Geraldine McLaughlin has won the Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month award for June.

McLaughlin has been acknowledged for a series of sparkling performances for the Donegal footballers who have been in excellent form en route to a third consecutive provincial success.

The 26-year-old Termon clubwoman put in some standout performances throughout the TG4 Ulster Senior Football Championship campaign in June.

Leading overall scorer in the 2018 TG4 Senior Championship, McLaughlin collected 2-4 in the opening round victory over Tyrone, including a penalty goal and four pointed frees.

In the gripping Ulster semi-final win against Cavan, McLaughlin bagged an incredible haul of 0-14 in total, including 11 points from play, and seven points in extra-time.

And when Donegal claimed the three-in-a-row in Ulster against Armagh, McLaughlin contributed 2-4, with all but a point coming from play.

Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Donegal’s thoughts now turn to the start of the TG4 All-Ireland series, where they’re in Group 4 alongside Tyrone and Mayo.

Donegal will commence their round-robin series on Saturday, July 20, when they take on Tyrone at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar.

A week later, Maxi Curran’s charges will be up against Mayo at Bord Na Móna O’Connor Park, and both of Donegal’s group games are LIVE on TG4.

Meanwhile, Dublin's bid for three TG4 All-Ireland senior titles in a row has received a setback with former Irish soccer international Siobhan Killeen ruled out for six months because of injury.

Both of last year's TG4 All-Ireland senior finalists Cork and Dublin are struggling with key injuries ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland stages with Cork’s Niamh Cotter and Dublin captain Sinead Aherne joining Killeen on the sidelines

Cork midfielder Cotter suffered a broken bone in her hand earlier this week, while Aherne only lasted eight minutes of Dublin’s successful Leinster final due to a 'partial dislocation' of her shoulder.

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship

Round 1 – July 13/14

Group 1: Cavan v Armagh

Group 2: Waterford v Dublin

Group 3: Galway v Kerry

Group 4: Tyrone v Mayo

Round 2 – July 20/21

Group 1: Cork v Cavan

Group 2: Monaghan v Waterford

Group 3: Westmeath v Galway

Group 4: Donegal v Tyrone

Round 3 – July 27/28

Group 1: Armagh v Cork

Group 2: Dublin v Monaghan

Group 3: Kerry v Westmeath

Group 4: Mayo v Donegal