O’Connell and Clarke win GPA monthly awards

Clare hurler Brian O'Connell and Armagh footballer Ronan Clarke have been honoured with the Opel Gaelic Player of the Month Awards for June.

The individual honours come after the pair played their part in guiding their respective teams through to provincial finals.

Clare captain O'Connell has been one of the Banner's most impressive performers this season, leading the county to their first Munster SHC decider since 1999.

The Wolfe Tones na Sionna clubman played a pivotal role in putting Waterford and Limerick to the sword in Clare's opening two games.

Commenting on O'Connell's selection, former Cork manager Donal O'Grady, the chairman of the Opel Gaelic Players Hurling Selection Committee, said: "Clare are back with a bang this summer and that has much to do with the hunger and zeal running through the team from goalkeeper to number 15, which is spearheaded by their dynamic midfield partnership in which Brian O'Connell has been outstanding.

"Brian has become a high class inter-county midfielder alongside Colin Lynch and apart from the high levels of energy he displayed against Waterford and Limerick, his ability to deliver accurate ball into the forwards shows that he is maturing all the time."

Clarke, the Armagh full-forward, has been in cracking form since his return from injury which forced him out of action for the whole of the 2007 season.

The Pearse Sg clubman has been consistently on target for the Orchard county this season shooting vital scores against both Cavan and Down.

Clarke's enviable accuracy means Armagh's quest for a seventh Ulster title in nine years remains on course.

Commenting on Clarke's award win, former Kerry manager and chairman of the Opel Gaelic Players Football Selection Committee, Jack O'Connor said: "There is no doubt that Ronan Clarke is one of the best forwards in the country and now that he is over the series of injuries which hampered him in recent seasons, the Armagh attack is buzzing again.

"His strength in the air, his ability to kick scores off both feet and his uncanny knack of combining with fellow poacher Steven McDonnell make him a nightmare to mark and he showed against both Cavan and Down that he is back to his brilliant best."