Seven of the clubs in contention for February’s AIB GAA Club Championship semi finals received a boost today with the news that a player from each club will be recognised with an AIB Provincial Player Award, to be presented in Dublin on Tuesday, February 9.
Ballyhale Shamrocks star player and Kilkenny captain for 2010 TJ Reid will collect his player award for the second year in a row.
However leading the media vote with a record number of nominations was Cork and Newtownshandrum hurling star, Ben O’Connor. The Newtownshandrum sharp-shooter has been central to helping his team secure their rightful place in the AIB GAA Club Championship semi-finals, where they will face the Leinster Champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Paddy Richmond of Dunloy Cuchullains was the standout performer in the AIB Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship and picks up his second Provincial Player Award, following his earlier award in 2007. Beaten AIB GAA All-Ireland Club semi-finalists in 2008, Richmond’s side will face a challenging match next month, when they face reigning All Ireland Champions, Portumna, in the semi-final.
As no action took place in the AIB Connacht GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship in 2009, Portumna go straight through to the semi-final stages in February and therefore no award is being made for Connacht hurling again this year.
The AIB Munster GAA Football award was as tightly contested as ever, with Kilmurry full back Darren Hickey taking the award, beating off stiff competition from several of his club team-mates. He will be hoping his side prevails in the All-Ireland Club Football quarter-final clash against Tir Chonaill Gaels later this month.
The Leinster Football award went to free scoring forward Paul Cahillane of Portlaoise, who helped his club secure victory recently over a brave Garrycastle side. Conor McGourty of St Galls took the honours for Ulster football, whilst Kieran Comer of Galway’s Corofin club is the Connacht football winner. McGourty helped his club to an emphatic 11 point win in the AIB Ulster GAA Senior Club Championship Final, while Comer was instrumental in leading Corofin to back-to-back titles in Connacht after an equally impressive destruction of Mayo champions Charlestown.
Speaking at the announcement of the awards, Billy Finn, of AIB said: “We welcome the opportunity to honour the performances of the players whose dedication and skill make the AIB GAA Club championships such an exciting competition every year. These awards have become a prestigious element of the Club Championships, and this year’s winners reflect the very high standard set in previous years”.
This is the 14th year of the AIB Provincial Player Awards. The seven winners are selected by the GAA media around the country, based on player’s performances in the 2009 AIB Provincial Club Championships. The winners will be presented with their awards at a function in the RDS, Dublin on Tuesday, February 9. 2009
