Kidney wins Manager of the Year award

DECLAN KIDNEY was presented with the Philips Manager of the Year award yesterday, capping an unforgettable year for Munster rugby.

Kidney was always odds on to receive the award after guiding Munster to the promised land of Heineken Cup glory last May, especially as the former Irish assistant coach had won two of the 12 monthly awards for the months of April and May.

There was a heavy Cork tinge to the whole day, in fact. Seven coaches from the county, including John Allen, Mary Collins and Eddie O’Sullivan, were in the hunt for the prize after winning monthly awards since last December.

Three of the other eleven recipients — Brian Cody and Jack O’Connor (joint winners for September) and John Rafferty (manager of the St Gall’s team that defeated Nemo Rangers in the Club All-Ireland) were also rewarded for performances against Cork teams.

Kidney took to the podium with a wide smile illuminating his face but the modesty that is his default setting was not long in springing to the surface.

“I feel like a fraud really,” said the Munster coach. “I would like to accept this on behalf of the players and the people I work with. Brian O’Brien, the former Irish manager, once said you are only as successful as the people around you want you to be. The players deserve the credit.”

Such is the pace of modern sporting life that Kidney has had little time with which to reflect on last May’s triumph in Cardiff. His focus is purely on the weekend to come and his side’s date in Cardiff.

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the Philips awards with many of the winners from yesteryear in attendance to take the applause from the bumper audience.

A special round of applause was reserved for Derval O’Rourke who won the gold medal in the World Indoors in Moscow last March.

* The Philips Monthly Award winners were:

December 2005: Paul Doolin — manager Drogheda United.

January 2006: Pat Price — coach UCC Demons.

February: John Rafferty — manager St. Gall’s, Belfast.

March: Eddie O’Sullivan — manager Irish rugby team and Jim Kilty — coach to Derval O’Rourke.

April: Declan Kidney — coach Munster rugby team.

May: Declan Kidney — coach Munster rugby team.

June: John Allen — manager Cork hurling team.

July: Billy Morgan — manager Cork football team.

August: Mickey Moran — manager Mayo football team.

September: Brian Cody — manager Kilkenny hurling team and Jack O’Connor — manager Kerry football team.

October: Mary Collins — manager Cork ladies football team.

November: Pat Fenlon — manager Shelbourne.