Double delight for Galvin and Walsh

KERRY’S Paul Galvin and Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh both achieved personal doubles last night by being named the Opel GPA players of the year for football and hurling.

The pair had already received the Vodafone All Star’s highest accolade last month.

For Galvin, it is further evidence of his astonishing return to form this year after what was a difficult campaign for him in 2008.

For Walsh, it is the merely the latest award of many he has received in 2009.

The announcements were made last night at the GPA’s annual gala and awards evening in Citywest. Both players will receive a brand new Opel Astra worth approximately €25,000.

Dessie Farrell, chief executive of the GPA said: “Congratulations to Tommy and Paul who have been acknowledged by their fellow hurlers and footballers as the outstanding players of the 2009 season. Both men made massive contributions to their respective county’s efforts this year and, though they were up against serious competition during the nomination process, they have been singled out by their peers.

“While in team sport the collective always comes first, Tommy and Paul showed great leadership throughout the summer.’’

The three nominees for the hurling award, as chosen by a hurling selection committee had been Walsh, Lar Corbett (Tipperary) and John Mullane (Waterford). The two nominations for football, as chosen by another committee, were Galvin and Kerry team-mate Tomas O Se.

The Opel Gaelic Teams of the year for hurling and football were named some weeks ago with each player on the team receiving €2,500, making the total value of prizes given out on the night worth approximately €125,000.

Opel GPA Team of the Year for Hurling: PJ Ryan (Kilkenny); O Canning (Galway), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), J Tyrell (Kilkenny); T Walsh (Kilkenny), C O’Mahony (Tipperary), P Maher (Tipperary); S McGrath (Tipperary), M Rice; Kilkenny); E Brennan (Kilkenny), S Callanan (Tipperary), E Larkin (Kilkenny); J Mullane (Waterford), H Shefflin (Kilkenny), L Corbett (Tipperary).

The 2009 Opel Gaelic team of the Year for Football: D Murphy (Kerry); M Ó Sé (Kerry), M Shields (Cork), T O’Sullivan (Kerry); T Ó Sé (Kerry), G Canty (Cork), J Miskella (Cork); D Earley (Kildare), S Scanlon (Kerry); P Galvin (Kerry), P O’Neill, Cork), P Kelly (Cork); D Goulding (Cork), Declan O’Sullivan (Kerry), T Walsh (Kerry).

Other awards:

GPA Player of the Tournament, Christy Ring Cup — Shane Kavanagh (Carlow)

GPA Player of the Tournament, Nicky Rackard Cup — Neil Hackett (Meath).

GPA Players of the Tournament, Lory Meagher Cup — Justin Kelly (Tyrone) and Jamesie Donnelly (Donegal)