Monaghan duo win Ulster writers awards

Monaghan corner forward Tommy Freeman and manager Seamus McEnaney claimed two of the top awards at the 2007 Tennent's Ulster GAA Writers awards banquet in Bundoran.

Freeman was named the Footballer of the Year while McEnaney, whose side reached the Ulster final and an All-Ireland quarter-final during the summer, won the Personality of the Year award.

The annual banquet, the 20th in the awards' history, took place on Saturday night and marked the first formal function which Paraic Duffy, the GAA's new Director General, attended since his official appointment last Wednesday. GAA President Nickey Brennan was also in attendance.

The Hurler of the Year award was won by Armagh attacker Declan Coulter, who helped the Orchard county reach this year's Nicky Rackard Cup final before they were beaten by Roscommon.

The Camogie honour went to Antrim's Jane Adams while Gemma Begley from Tyrone was crowned the Lady Footballer of the Year.

However, the banquet was tinged with sadness as members of the Ulster GAA Writers' Association recalled Brian Houston who sadly passed away recently.