May award for Gemma

Cork’s fabulous win in the national Senior Camogie league final was acknowledged recently when the teams outstanding midfielder Gemma O’Connor was presented with the 96FM/C103 GAA Sports Star of the month award winner for May in association with the Rochestown Park Hotel.

Cork produced two fantastic displays to beat Galway in the semi-final and All-Ireland champions Wexford in the final and in both games Gemma gave excellent leadership as Cork got back on the winners rostrum after a barren couple of years.

Gemma was thrilled to be honoured and thanked all who have helped her throughout her career particularly her family, mother Geraldine, father Donal and brother Glenn, himself a good dual player with the ‘Barrs.

Marion McCarthy Chairperson of the Cork Camogie Board congratulated Gemma on being honoured and it is well deserved as she has been a fantastic player for club and county over many years. Marion also thanked the sponsors for their continued recognition of Camogie in these awards.

Camogie Board officers Sile Golden and Mary Newman were also in attendance along with members of the Cork management team, including coach Paudie Murray.

Special guests included members of the Defence Forces, of which Gemma is a member and the first to be honoured in the awards scheme, Lt Shane Mc Eoin, CS Eddie Foley and CS Dave Heaphy who in his address said "we are very proud of Gemma’s sporting achievements and thrilled to be here as she is a great ambassador for the army and equally proud of her army career".   

Anthony Buttimer Rochestown Park Hotel, Kieran McGeary MD 96FM and Tracey Kennedy PRO Cork County Board were also in attendance.

Gemma is the fifth winner for 2012 as the awards begin their ninth year. Handballer Killian Carroll was the winner in January, while Kanturk student Kevin Crowley was the February recipient, with UCC’s John Grainger picking up the March award, while the April award - the 100^th in the scheme - went to Cork football star Michael Shields.