Banner ace Morey takes rising star award

Clare’s Seadna Morey was named the 2012 Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year in Croke Park yesterday evening.

The Sixmilebridge defender was favoured after an impressive campaign in the Banner’s successful All-Ireland U21 campaign. Morey was chosen ahead of a shortlist comprising team-mates Patrick O’Connor and Tony Kelly, Tipperary’s John O’Dwyer and Kilkenny pair Walter Walsh and Ger Aylward.

As well as an U21 title, the 19-year-old, who is part of the U21 Ireland shinty panel, also made his senior championship debut this year.

GAA president Liam O’Neill congratulated Morey on his honour.

“I offer my heartiest congratulations to Seadna on the fantastic achievement of being honoured as the Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year for 2012.

“Having followed his progress throughout what was a fantastic competition, I can’t say I am surprised and I wish him well ahead of what should be a hugely exciting career in the Clare and Sixmilebridge colours.”

Bord Gáis Energy Sports Ambassador and Cork senior selector Ger Cunningham formed one part of the judging panel along with Galway’s Joe Canning, outgoing Waterford senior selector Ken McGrath and TG4’s Mícheál Ó Domhnaill.

He said: “I would like to congratulate all six players here this evening on their achievements this year with their counties in the Bord Gáis Energy U21 Championship.

“However, their own performances made them stand-out contenders for this award and they are a credit to their clubs, their counties and their family and friends.

“Picking one player was not easy and certainly Joe, Ken, Mícheál and myself had a difficult task but we felt Seadna deserved it.

“He displayed all the characteristics of a quality back in the Munster semi-final and final but was also able to chip in with a score or two.

“However, in the All-Ireland semi-final and final we all felt that he brought his play to another level and for this level of consistency, it was hard to ignore Seadna.”

Previous winners include Clare’s Darach Honan (2009), Tipperary’s Seamus Hennessy (2010) and Cork’s Aidan Walsh (2011).