Derry's Muldoon wins Ulster award

Derry have received a boost ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Dublin with the news that ace forward Enda Muldoon has been named as the Ulster GAA Writers' Monthly Merit award winner for July.

The Ballinderry clubman played a pivotal role in Derry's qualifier wins over Mayo and Laois last month, roaming around the attack and midfield as he shot 1-1 against Mayo.

Speaking as he accepted the award, a modest Muldoon said: "The whole team played very well in those games and I am lucky to be selected the winner of the Merit Award. I'm delighted, of course, and it gives me a great lift going into our trip to Croke Park to face Dublin."

The 29-year-old Muldoon saw off competition from Tyrone midfielder Sean Cavanagh, who starred against Monaghan in the Ulster SFC final, another Red Hand star Conor Gormley, who was also in fine form in that game, and Monaghan's Vincent Corry whose switch from full-back to full-forward during the final transformed the Farney team.

Camogie star Sarah Louise Carr, who plays for Clonduff and Down, was also a possible winner of the award after helping Clonduff win their first senior county title.

She was in devastating form at inter-county level as she scored a massive 6-8 against Roscommon in the All-Ireland minor championship.

This is Muldoon's second monthly Ulster GAA Writers' gong - he was also a winner in October 2002 when Ballinderry won the Ulster club final.

For his July 2007 win, he received a Tennent's Ireland voucher, an engraved Belleek China vase, training gear from Pro*Star Sports and specially designed silver cuff links from Omeath Jeweller Gareth Mallon at a special function in the Ulster Brewery.