WOMEN'S football honoured their first Player of the Year when Laois full forward Sue Ramsbottom was presented with the NIB Personality of the Month award in Dublin yesterday. It is the inaugural inclusion of Cumann Peile na mBan in these awards.

Ramsbottom, an army officer in Athlone currently studying in Galway, illuminated last year with a championship total of 7-21 as Laois suffered the frustration of another All-Ireland final defeat. Six finals have failed to yield Ramsbottom a medal, although her prowess as a forward has been recognised by six All Star awards.

It's all been hard-earned, with intensive championship training that includes occasional weeks of 6.30 sessions every morning when she has to be back in Athlone by nine o'clock.

"It (the award) not alone recognises me but it also recognises ladies' football in general, puts it up on that little pedestal which I think it deserves," she said

"Personally it means a lot. To get recognition when on the losing team gives you heart. When you lose, you do feel disappointed, because I am a very competitive person. There will be very few days that go by when you won't wonder, `maybe if I'd done this, if I'd put that over, if I'd trained a little bit harder' or whatever."

With the League about to start, she looks forward to better days for both herself and her sport.

"I really mean this. Some day we will fill Croke Park and I know we'll fill Croke Park, and hopefully that'll be the day that I'll be out playing. I play for sport and the joy of it and to win. But this recognition boosts me and encourages me to start again."