Gardiner gains Munster Council honour

Cork defender John Gardiner picked up yet another Hurler of the Year award at the Munster Council Awards ceremony in Limerick last night.

The Na Piarsaigh star, who helped Cork win their second successive All-Ireland SHC title in September, claimed the gong at the South Court Hotel bash. Cork boss John Allen was named as Manager of the Year.

In the past two months, the 22-year-old Gardiner has been voted as Hurler of the Year at both the Irish Daily Star/Waterford Crystal GAA awards ceremony and the GPA awards night.

Last month also saw the bank official captain Munster to the Interprovincial hurling crown and earn his first Vodafone GAA All-Star honour.

The Munster Council chose Kerry's Colm Cooper, who scored a total of 4-22 in the 2005 championship, as their Footballer of the Year, while Cork club Nemo Rangers were rewarded with the Team of the Year gong.

There were also Hall of Fame awards on the night for former Tipperary hurling goalkeeper Tony Reddan, who claimed a hat-trick of All-Ireland SHC medals between 1949 and 1951, and Kerry footballer Dr Sean Murphy, who won the first of his three All-Ireland SFC medals as a midfielder (1953), and the other two at right half-back (1955, '59).

2005 MUNSTER COUNCIL AWARD WINNERS:

Hurler of the Year: John Gardiner (Cork)

Footballer of the Year: Colm Cooper (Kerry)

Manager of the Year: John Allen (Cork)

Camogie Player of the Year: Gemma O'Connor (Cork)

Ladies Footballer of the Year: Sinead O'Reilly (Cork)

Hall of Fame: Hurler: Tony Reddan (Tipperary); Footballer: Dr. Sean Murphy (Kerry)

Handball: Ashley Prendiville (Kerry)

Administration: Seamus O'Brien (Waterford)

Schools Coching: John Landers (Limerick)

Referee: Willie Barrett (Tipperary)

Special Merit Award: Fr Brendan Moloney (Silvermines, Tipperary)

Media Award: John O'Shaughnessy (Limerick Leader)