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.