Bourke and Egan among UCC award winners

University College Cork’s memorable 2011 GAA season received further recognition last night as the college handed out its Sport Star awards for the year.

Eleven stellar talents were honoured, including inter-county hurlers Shane Bourke from Tipperary and Cork’s William Egan in recognition of UCC’s win in the Centenary Fitzgibbon Cup and League success. The pair cross camáns on Sunday in the National League semi-final.

The Hall of Fame award was shared between Paul O’Connor, coach to the Fitzgibbon Cup team and Paul O’Keeffe, coach to UCC’s Cork SFC winning squad. Sigerson Cup midfielder Johnny Buckley received the gaelic football award.

The 29th annual awards, in conjunction with the River Lee Hotel and Bank of Ireland, were presented by college president Dr Michael Murphy and special guest, Christy Cooney, who has just completed his term as GAA president.

Christine O’Donovan, UCC’s director of sport and recreation, said: “The students and clubs embraced this special centenary year of sport (UCC Sport 1911-2011), with successes in Badminton, Volleyball, Squash, Equestrian, Ladies Rugby, Ladies Gaelic Football and Junior Rugby inter-varsities, in addition to the magnificent Centenary Fitzgibbon Cup hurling win at the Mardyke, the winning of the Irish Trophy Cup by the Men’s Hockey Club, and also the Men’s Volleyball team winning the Volleyball England Student Cup and the Gaelic Footballers winning the Cork County Championship.”

Irish senior international, Alison Miller, is the first female rugby player to be honoured. She helped the UCC team reach the CUSAI League Final this year and started in all of Ireland’s Six Nations Games. Niall Kenny is among those rewarded also for his success in rowing and being part of the Irish Senior Squad which competed in the World Cup last summer. He is also a member of the Irish U23 Squad and has just returned from Italy with the Irish Senior squad.

This year’s Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award for special achievement was presented to John Sheehan of UCC Athletics Club, who is coach of the club since the early 1990s.

Winners: Clare Fitzgerald (Athletics); Ciara Pender (Badminton); Claire Rockall (Basketball); Johnny Buckley (Gaelic Football); Ciara O’Sullivan (Ladies Football); Adam O’Callaghan (Hockey); Shane Bourke and William Egan (Hurling); Niall O’Kenny (Rowing); Alison Miller (Rugby); Luke Burgess (Soccer).