Ó hAilpín completes hat-trick

Cork half-back Seán Óg Ó hAilpín completed a hat-trick of awards last night when he was crowned Hurler of the Year at the 2004 Vodafone All Star banquet in Dublin's Citywest.

The Na Piarsaigh club man, who also starred for Ireland in the recent International Rules Series victory, has already been voted the Hurler of the Year at the GPA and Texaco awards.

The Young Hurler of the Year award went to Óg Ó hAilpín's county colleague, defender Brian Murphy, in his first year of championship hurling.

Defenders also reigned supreme in the football equivalent.

Kerry's Tomás Ó Sé took the Footballer of the Year award for the League, Munster and All-Ireland champions.

Meanwhile, the Young Footballer of the Year award went to goalkeeper Niall Tinney, whose team, Fermanagh, were the surprise package of this year's All-Ireland championship.

The northern side were beaten heavily by Tyrone in the Ulster championship, but embarked on a qualifier run that ended at the semi-final stages when the Ernesiders took Mayo to a replay, which they subsequently lost.