Browne and Callaghan pick up GAA monthly awards

Senior inter-county hurling’s current longest servant Tony Browne of Waterford and Kildare football protagonist Eamonn Callaghan were today honoured with the Vodafone GAA Players of the Month awards for July, at an awards ceremony in Dublin.

Former Hurler of the Year and All Star Tony Browne was recognised for his immense displays in Waterford’s drawn and replayed Munster Final which gave the inspirational Mount Sion clubman his fourth provincial title.

The 37-year-old bagged a vital injury time goal to send the Munster decider to a replay and again played a vital part next day out as the Decies claimed Munster glory after extra-time.

Browne made his debut in 1991 against Galway in the National Hurling League and 19 years later is currently the oldest and one of the most influential players involved in the GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling championship.

Eamonn Callaghan also laid down a marker as one of football’s leading players with his performances in July.

The 28-year-old has to date this year shown his versatility, not least in July when he was chosen at centre back against Leitrim scoring a point from play.

Next day out the Naas clubman chalked up 1-4 from play from wing forward against Derry in the next round of the qualifiers.

O’Callaghan capitalised again on Saturday week last as he was one of Kildare’s stars in their impressive victory over Monaghan, lining out as a roving corner forward and ending up with 0-2 from play.

That led the Lilywhites into last weekend’s All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Meath, which they were so impressive in and qualified them for an All-Ireland semi-final showdown with Down; the first time for Kildare to reach the last four since the inception of the qualifiers.

Congratulating the July Player of the Month award winners, GAA Director General Paraic Duffy said: "It’s an honour to be here today to jointly present the awards to two of the stars of the 2010 season. Tony Browne has decorated the GAA calendar with so many outstanding performances over the years and this year, at the ripe age of 37, is going as well as ever.

"It is great also to see Eamonn Callaghan getting recognition for his outstanding season and he, and indeed Kildare generally, have been a breath of fresh air in the 2010 championship, as we saw again in last weekend’s outstanding display."