Ronan praise for CIT sport bursary recipients

REPUBLIC of IRELAND ladies soccer manager Sue Ronan shared her experiences as both a player and international soccer manager as she praised the 105 student recipients of CIT sports bursaries at the Oriel House Hotel last night.

The bursaries spanned 18 different sports and were allocated to students who displayed a high level of achievement, commitment and dedication in their chosen sport.

The Cadbury’s GAA bursary was awarded to Kevin Hallissey for his part in Cork’s Junior All-Ireland football final victory, the medal coinciding with an U21 Munster football championship medal in 2011.

Among the bursaries allocated for soccer was one to Emma Farmer, who played in the U19 UEFA Championships with Ireland, Orla Barry, who is currently playing on the Cork Women’s team competing in the FAI Women’s National League, and Cian O’Connor, who won the treble with Cork City Youths in 2011.

Cork hurlers Stephen McDonnell and Lorcan McLoughlin, along with Kerry U21 football captain Mark Griffin, were recognised for their successes in 2011 while Cork camogie player Mariah Reidy and Danielle O’Shea, senior club All-Ireland winner with Inch Rovers, were presented with their bursaries at the awards.

Alongside the 11 Munster Council GAA bursaries, the Cadbury’s GAA Bursary, and an EMC GAA bursary, 12 Munster Rugby/CIT rugby bursaries were awarded by Munster Rugby to highlight the commitment of Munster Rugby to CIT, which home to the Cork-based Munster players.

Amongst the rugby recipients were Richard Moran and Cian O’Donnell, both Munster Schools Senior Cup winners with Rockwell and selected on Munster underage teams to date.

For the first time, two Cork City Bursaries and one John Herlihy Foundation Bursary for Soccer were awarded, with Eoin McCreevey and Cian O’Connor picking up the Cork City awards and Emma Coughlan the John Herlihy Foundation bursary winner.

With hockey going from strength to strength in the college, five bursaries were awarded in the category.

Andrew Daunt, David Smith and Roger Gray received bursaries along with fellow club members and Irish players Yvonne O’Byrne and Cliodhna Sargent.

The prominence of the athletics club saw sprinter Cathal Owens and pole vaulter Thomas Houlihan, who have both competed in the European Youth Olympics, receive recognition as well as Sinead O’Connor, the current national U19 triple jump champion.

A first for the Institute was a bursary for Motorcross, which went to Southern Centre U21 championship runner-up Aaron Beausang.

The students were also addressed on the night by Munster Council vice-chairman Robert Frost and president of the Munster Rugby branch Denis Kelleher.