GAA award winner to be revealed on Friday

This Friday will see a Cork sports star awarded for their exploits last year when the 96FM/C103 GAA Sports Star of the year will be announced.

All will be revealed at the gala banquet in the Rochestown Park Hotel on 31 January!

January

There were joint winners in January after East Cork clubs St Catherines and Castlelyons won their respective Munster club championships.

Sean O’Donoghue was a key player for St Catherine’s as they bounced back from defeat in the Cork final to win in Munster with some great displays - Sean made important scoring contributions.

Alan Fenton has been a top player for Castlelyons for many years and once again he came to the fore as the they won a dramatic Munster Championship that included trips to Kerry and extra-time along with a fog hindered Munster Final that seemed to go on forever.

February

The Fitzgibbon Cup is a hugely sought after championship at 3rd level and this year Mary I from Limerick took the honours.

However there was a very strong Cork connection with Colin O’Brien from Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels playeing a pivotal role in the victory and was a worthy recipient of the February award.

March

We had joint winners for this month and how special it was to acknowledge handball - an integral part of our association.

Liscarroll duo Michael Hedigan and Daniel Relihan were crowned All-Ireland doubles champions with a thrilling final win in Croke Park.

April

The Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship had many twists and turns as champions Cork sought to retain their title.

That they came up short in controversial circumstances but that was not the fault of classy wing forward St Finbarr’s William Buckley whose point scoring from play and placed balls got them over the line in a few tight games.

May

The Cork senior camogie team were in excellent form all season, especially after the league. The Munster Championship was won and the All-Ireland. Laura Hayes has been in brilliant form, her pace has blitzed many an opponent and her ability to rifle over long range points has been vital. The St Catherine’s player was named the Camogie Player of the Year along.

June

The Cork footballers’ year may have ended sooner than they would have wished for but after a shaky start they showed steady improvement and beating Donegal in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

A key player was defender Daniel O’Mahoney and apart from his defensive duties chipped in with some important scores as well. Daniel was also an All-Star nominee.

July

The All-Ireland Final was in the end heartbreaking but it did produce a thrilling afternoon’s hurling with Robert Downey a central figure for the Rebels. Scoring one of the most memorable goals ever seen in Croke Park, Rob gave a master class display. The Glen Rovers star was rewarded with an All-Star.

August

We also had joint winners in this month as the All-Ireland winning Cork camogie teams were honoured as they completed the double in HQ.

Aoife Barrett was an outstanding defender as the Intermediate team got the better of old rivals Kilkenny by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling final, just reward for a classy player.

The Aghabullogue player was also named on the Soaring Stars Intermediate team of the year.

As the seniors made it back to back titles, it was another defender that was acknowledged, with Pamela Mackey the recipient. Pamela was outstanding in a thrilling final, winning her 7th All-Ireland medal and an All-Star.

September

It has been an exciting season for Carrigaline - winners of both the hurling and football leagues, they were also crowned county Senior A Football champions.

Kevin Kavanagh was a big player for both teams and was a worthy winner. Injury meant he missed the football final and the Premier Intermediate Hurling Final.

October

Castlehaven justified their tag as favourites by retaining the County Premier Senior Football Championship. Michael Hurley’s quality and class shone through in the campaign and his point scoring an important factor in winning their 7th Andy Scannell Cup.

November

An unprecedented season for Watergrasshill ended with them crowned county, Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate champions.

Adam Murphy played a key role all year producing scores when needed and his tally of 1-8 in the recent All-Ireland Final crucial in a game of fine margins.

December

Sars’ loss in the County Senior Hurling Final would have been seen as the end of the season, but in the Munster Championship they rose to the challenge, winning the Munster Championship against Ballygunner and making the All-Ireland final. Daniel Kearney led by example in all games and excelled in Croke Park.

Two other awards will also be presented on the night. The Donal Lehane Distinguished Career Award acknowledges a man who along with the Lehane family have been outstanding supporters of these awards since the very first year.

The Kieran O’Driscoll Youth Award honours our former colleague who through his work as a teacher and a team mentor with his beloved Kilbrittain club, always had an abiding interest in the welfare of the youth in our county.

These awards would not be possible without the help of so many; my colleagues in 96FM/C103 for all their support, Kieran McGeary, Isabel Keane, Kelly O’Sullivan and of course Ken Perrott and the street fleet crew. Thanks also to the management and staff of the Rochestown Park Hotel especially Tom Tobin, Colm Bulger and Elaine who helps with the monthly presentation lunches.

Thanks to Tony O’Connell for his excellent pictures and fixing our ties, and also to County Board PRO Francis Kenneally who completed his term at this month’s convention, my thanks for his support and publication of the monthly awards in match day programmes.