GAA club events now firmly on sport map

THE growth of the AIB club hurling and football championships meant that they had now become ‘one of the great events,’ not just of the GAA year, but of the Irish sporting calendar, according to Association president Nickey Brennan.

Mr Brennan made the statement at the annual presentation of the provincial player awards as well as coaching and development awards to Kilkenny vice-chairman Paul Kinsella and former Ulster hurling officer Seamus McGrattan.

Armagh star Oisin McConville, captain of the Crossmaglen Rangers team which takes on Dr Crokes in the football final on St. Patrick’s Day, was honoured for the third time, having previously been voted top performer in the Ulster campaigns of 1996 and 1999.

Other award winners included Colm Cooper, Cha Fitzpatrick, Ronan Sweeney and John O’Brien, who is the incoming Tipperary captain.

Mr Brennan pointed out that the partnership with the bank had been a real success story, in the way that their advertising campaigns recreated that ‘sense of identity’ which characterised their clubs.

“The club remains the most important part of our organisation and while we all hope that our own team may some day reach the top, for the vast majority of clubs it’s a matter of ‘looking up’ and seeing the big ones come forward. But, it doesn’t stop them from hoping that their turn may come,’’ he added.

In relation to the Coaching & Development awards, Mr Brennan said that, in selecting Paul Kinsella and Seamus McGrattan the judges had picked two men with a passion for hurling.

Mr Brennan stated that the floodlights will be turned on for the second half of the hurling final on March 17, which will involve Ballyhale Shamrocks and Loughrea.

Award winners: Hurling: Johnny O’Loughlin (Loughrea); James “Cha” Fitzpatrick (Ballyhale Shamrocks); John O’Brien (Toomevara); Karl McKeegan (Cushendall).

Football: Mark O’Carroll (St. Brigid’s); Ronan Sweeney (Moorefield); Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes): Oisin McConville (Crossmaglen Rangers).