Noel's flying start to the summer

Noel O'Leary is never far from any Cork football fan's thoughts. In person he appears almost childlike, with a twinkle in his eye and a smile that would break any mammy's heart. On the pitch, however, it's a different story. Lauded in recent times more for his on-pitch spats with fashion guru and Kerry footballer Paul Galvin, it's about time that Noel was recognised for his supreme footballing efforts, writes Louise Cashell

Noel was last week awarded with the 96FM/C103 Rochestown Park Sports Award for June. In what has been a flying start to the summer so far, Noel was awarded for his sporting heroics with Cork in their semi-final clash with Kerry as well as his home club of Cill na Matra, who have progressed to the fourth round of the County Championship and now play Aghabullogue. 

At 30 years of age, Noel has been knocking around the Cork football scene for quite some time. He first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork Under 16 team in 1997 in which he won a Munster title and from that point onwards, Noel has won medals at various levels for Cork. This includes an All-Ireland minor medal in 2000 and although a Munster Under 21 Medal was achieved in 2001, the same team failed to reach the All-Ireland decider. When presenting the award to Noel, Finbarr McCarthy pointed out that Noel epitomises what the GAA is all about which is true on both paper and in character. 

Speaking at the awards, Noel thanked all those around him for their support and admitted he would not be where he was, had it not been for family and friends driving him on. He said: "I'll start with thanking my family, especially my parents Máire and Donal whose support has been fantastic and then there's the club as well. Cill na Matra have shown huge support to me over the years and that's where it all began. I suppose it's been all go for quite a while now and everyone around me has been very good to me and I'm very grateful for that."

Also at the lunch were Noel's team mates Eoin Cadogan and Michael Shields (who was the recipient of the same award in April) and Noel pointed out the two players have been outstanding in standing by him. "Shieldsy and Cadogan have been great friends to me over the years and it just goes to show that if you have the right players around you, then you can go far."

Also speaking at the awards was County Vice-Chairman Ger Lane who pointed out that Noel's contribution to Cork football, since he was a youngster, has been exceptional. It was also noted that Noel is the first player ever from Cill na Matra to have won an All-Ireland medal. For now Noel is back to the training pitch, preparing for All-Ireland quarter clash on the August bank holiday weekend, with the opposition yet to be decided. Also in attendance at the awards were County PRO Tracey Kennedy, Cork selectors Terry O'Neill, Jim Nolan and Donal McCarthy, family friend Joan Cooney as well as various other family members and friends and Cill na Matra club officers. Tom Tobin of the Rochestown Park Hotel was also in attendance. A Munster medal and an award for Noel in the space of a week and from the look of things, this year's haul isn't finished yet.