Local winners at G.A.A. Awards Night

There were a number of local winners at the Local Bar Sponsored Waterford G.A.A. Awards Night which was held on Saturday night last at Lawlor’s Hotel in Dungarvan.

There was no surprise when it came to the Adult Hurler of the Year Award as Austin Gleeson who helped Waterford win the Under 21 Munster and All-Ireland Finals was named the winner. The Mount Sion man also won the National Hurler of the Year Award, the National Underage Player of the Year, Award, and an All-Star Award as well as being named on the Under 21 Team of the year.

The underage Player of the Year award was won by Jack Prendergast from Lismore as he impressed in helping his side win Western, County and Munster Intermediate Hurling titles in the past year.

The football winners came from The Nire Club.

The Adult Footballer of the year was won by Thomas O’Gorman who guided The Nire to the county senior football final a few weeks playing at Full back. He also impressed while helping The Nire reach a third Munster Senior Club Football Final, where they lost out recently to Dr. Crokes from Kerry. The underage Player of the Year was won by Dylan Guiry who is regarded by many as one of the finest football prospects coming through within the county.

Ballyduff Lower who beat Saint Mary’s in the Junior Hurling County Final won the Club of the Year. It was a very good year for the Ballyduff/Kilmeaden based club as they won the East and County Junior Hurling Championship and reached the Munster Final where they lost out on Sunday last to Mayfield from Cork and also won the Eastern Junior Football Final but lost out to Colligan after a replay in the County Final.

The Affane/Cappoquin Club won an award for the development of their Club Grounds.

Former Waterford and Mount Sion hurler Pat McGrath, father of Ken won a Hall of Fame award.

Dungarvan’s Jim Dee won the Jack Furlong Award, presented each year for service to the G.A.A. for his untiring work as team secretary to the Waterford Senior Hurlers over a long number of years. The popular Dungarvan man served as secretary while Gerald and Justin McCarthy, Davy Fitzgerald, Michael Ryan and Derek McGrath was team manager up to the time he retired from the position.

Ballygunner Club Man Pat McCarthy won the Seamus O’Brien Award for administration within the G.A.A.

Sean Power who managed the Waterford Under 21 team in 2016 was awarded a Special Achievement Award for guiding Waterford to Munster and All-Ireland Glory.

Affane/Cappoquin Club Man Eddie O’Shea and Bonmahon’s Mossie Landy won awards of Special Merit for their work within the G.A.A.

Patricia Walsh (Junior) from Lackendarra was presented with a Special Recognition Award for serving as Secretary to the Féile na Gael Competition which was successfully staged in Waterford and Tipperary in 2016. Patricia is one of the hardest workers the G.A.A. in Waterford has having filled a number of positions at Club Level with Colligan and Saint Patrick’s as well on County and Western Boards at Adult and Bord na nÓg Levels. She is currently the Secretary of the Western Board.

Another local winner was Monnie Hallahan who was presented with a Special Recognition to Culture Award. Monnie has been long associated with the Different Scor competitions. He has trained many teams including from Sliabh gCua to win County, Munster and All-Ireland set dancing competitions and was himself a part of the First Sliabh gCua team to win a score All-Ireland back in 1972.

Earlier this year Monnie announced that he was stepping down as trainer to the set teams but has since been talked back into continuing.

The Chairman of the judging committee was Brendan Tobin.