O’Driscoll named player of the year

MICK O’Driscoll was last night named Munster Player of the Year at the annual provincial awards dinner in Thomond Park, sponsored by the Irish Examiner.

O’Driscoll has been a tower of strength for the province since he made his debut against Leinster at Dooradoyle in 1998. He has now played more than 160 times for the province and 17 times for his country. His value to Munster has rarely been greater than last season when he played in all but one of the team’s matches en route to their Magners League title and more recently when he has proved such an invaluable member of the pack in the ongoing absence of Paul O’Connell.

Nonetheless, he admitted to being surprised at receiving this honour last night.

“I was dumbfounded when I heard I was selected as one of the four nominees,” he claimed. “If you look back at it, there was a stage in the season when I wasn’t even in the 22. But it is a great award to get and it is superb on a personal level. When you get picked out by your team-mates in a squad like ours, it’s unbelievable and special.

“There were a lot of other guys who put in a lot of effort who possibly deserved mention as well but I was one of those lucky enough to get picked and I’m absolutely delighted. That said, it is great winning personal awards but I suppose it has been a disappointing season for Munster as a team.”

Among the other guests of honour was 83-year-old Jim McCarthy, a wing-forward on the Irish team that won the Grand Slam in 1948, while the outstanding academy player award went to Scott Deasy, one of those who couldn’t be present because of Munster’s Magners League game in Cardiff. Billy Holland, another on duty in the same game, was voted young player of the year. Their awards were accepted respectively by their fathers Peter and Jerry.