PLAYER AWARDS.
SENIOR FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR Owen Duffy was cited for his contribution to the latter stages of the 2011 senior football championship when he hit crucial scores that saw Lstton over the line. His superb injury time point in their semi final win over Ballybay was only bettered with similar score in their win over Scotstown in the final that brought his championship total to 0-13.

INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR Mark Downey, carrickmacross was an ever present in his club's six match championship winning sequence having scored in every game to bring his tally to 1-14, the goal coming in the final against Corduff. Carrickmacross also completed the double of league and championship, Mark Downey's second intermediate double, having also achieved that distinction back in 2006.

JUNIOR FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR, Niall Flanagan, Cremartin won his second junior championship medal last year having started in eight of Cremartin's nine championship matches. As well as helping them to a junior double Niall also played a crucial role in Cremartin's march to the Ulster club junior championship final where fate dealt him and his club a cruel blow to deny them bringinbg the PaulKerr Cup back to the Shamrocks.

YOUNG FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR Kieran Duffy, Latton, younger brother of senior award winner, Owen, made it a unique double for the Duffy family and the Latton club. Kieran made his senior county debut in 2010 and lined out last year for the senior and U21 teams. As well as helping Latton to the senior championship Kieran also played a vital role in Latton winning the U21 league division 2 title.

CLUB MONAGHAN SENIOR FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR, Darren Hughes picked up the accolade for his series of top class performances in the county jersey, particularly his tour de force against Tyrone in the Ulster senior football championship. He also had the distinction of representing his country in the International Rules series in Australia where he played a vital role in Ireland bringing back the Cormac McAnallen Cup.

HURLING AWARDS.

It was a double for C'Blayney Hurling Club as the picked up both the Senior Hurler of the Year Award and the Young Hurler Award, Brian McGuigan named as the senior winner in a year when he picked up his 8th senior hurling championship medal. Mark Treanor was named as Young Hurler for the key role he played in defence that helped C'Blayney complete the senior double of league and championship.

LADIES FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR Sharon Courtney, Donaghmoyne, was described as a great team player who has amassed a huge haul of medals and trophies at club and county level. At club level she was won medals in all grades from under age to 9 senior county, 6 Ulster and two All Ireland club championships while at county level she is the holder of U14 and minor championships, 4 Ulster titles and has been an all Star twice.

IN CAMOGIE Truagh's Siobhan McKenna was an automatic choice given her contribution to Monaghan's success in winning the Maire Ni Chinneide Cup for the second year in a row as well as earning herself a place on the Ulster junior Gael Linn panel.

IN HANDBALL Conor McDonnell got the nod from the County Handball Board for his second Award after an outstanding year in 2011 that saw him garner success both at home and at provincial level as well as competing in the World Police and Fire Games in New York where he lost out narrowly in the Bronze medal playoff. Last year also saw him named as Ulster Official of the Year.

CLUB AWARDS.

The success of Cremartin on the playing fields as well as the contribution of players and officials from the club at county level, were just some of the factors that saw them named as Club of the Year for 2011. As well as winning the junior double they were also successful at minor and U16 level and came within a whisker of taking provincial club honours while the manner in which they conduct club business was also a contributing factor. The award was accepted by Brendan McNally, chairman of the club.

CURRIN were presented with an inaugural Special Merit Award to mark their 125th anniversary which they celebrated last year, a year that also saw them promoted to senior ranks for the first time. The club over the years has supplied some outstanding players at county level as well as two county chairmen, Aidan Quigley and John Connolly. The award was accepted by David Rafferty.

CLUB YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS were picked up by Truagh in football and Monaghan Harps in hurling. Truagh enjoyed great under age success in 2011, winning titles at U12, U14 and minor all of which is as a result of the excellent player development programmes that the club has in place.

Monaghan Harps hurling Club also enjoyed great success last year, winning the U12 league and the U14 league and championship as well as representing Monaghan at Feile na nGael.

CLUB OFFICIAL AWARDS went to Gerry Finnegan, Drumhowan, as the senior club Official of The Year and Mary Woods, Inniskeen who was named as Club Juvenile Official of the Year. Gerry Finnegan's outstanding leadership saw him propel Drumhowan to the Gold Award in the Ulster Council Club Maith scheme while Mary Woods' success was based on her outstanding work with the under age teams and players in the Inniskeen club.

HALL OF FAME AWARDS.
Last Friday night saw two of the all-time greats, Gerry Fitzpatrick, Castleblayney, and Joe Carroll, Inniskeen, inducted into the Monaghan GAA Hall of Fame. Gerry Fitzpatrick was described as one of the most illustrious players to wear the famed green and gold jersey of Castleblayney, entering the record books in 1958 by winning a minor football championship medal at the tender age of 14. As a minor player he won four minor championships and three minor leagues. His transition to the senior team was swift and his medal collection at senior level is unsurpassed. He was a member of the great Castleblayney five in a row team, 1963 to 1967 and he won six further senior championship medals between 1970 and 1976, creating a county record when he collected his 12th medal in 1982. His unquestioned class as a player particularly as a free scoring forward saw him represent Monaghan through the 1960s and 1970s being top scorer for the county on five occasions, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1973 and 1974. 1972 saw him selected to play for Ulster in the Railway Cup where he lined out in the full forward line alongside Sean O'Neill of Down and Andy McCallin of Antrim. When he eventually retired as a player he got involved in team management and has helped a number of clubs achieve success. This year he will be along the sideline with Aughnamullen. In accepting the award Gerry Fitzpatrick spoke of his delight and even shock when he was informed that he had been selected and speaking of his time in football he recalled the influence of the great Liam McGrath as a team manager speaking of the passion, hunger and desire that he instilled in players in his team talks. His wife Marie was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

JOE CARROLL. Joe was described as one of the true gentlemen of Monaghan GAA circles. He learned his football in the parish leagues in Inniskeen in the early 50s that were organised by his great friend Paddy O'Rourke. Joe's talent was quickly recognised by all and in 1957 he was a vital member of the Inniskeen/Killanny combination that reached the Monaghan minor championship final only to lose narrowly Knockatallon. His transition to the senior team was swift making his debut in a senior league match against Ballybay. He won a senior football league medal in 1958 and Hackett Cup medals in 1959 and 1960. As a 19-year-old he was chosen on the county team and made his debut in a National League game against Donegal. His first Ulster championship game was against Tyrone in Dungannon where his stylish play helped Monaghan to victory but they lost to Down in the semi-final. Joe was a regular on the county team until the mid-70s and he took part in the historic trip to New York in 1971. Joe emigrated to England in the early 60s where he played with The Sons of Erin team in Northampton, a team that was also served by the Sullivan brother from Latton. Joe continually travelled home to play with Inniskeen and the county and he finished an 18 year career with Inniskeen in 1976. Later he transferred to the Sean O'Mahony's club in Dundalk where he won a Louth junior championship medal at the age of 42. In recalling his career in the games Joe look back over various players both in Monaghan and outside Monaghan that impressed him as well as recalling games in England and on one occasion an attempt by the great Peter McGowan Finnegan to get him to transfer to a club in Dublin. He never won a Monaghan senior football championship medal but treasures the junior championship title that he won in Louth and of course one of the highlights of his career was when he won a Railway Cup medal in 1965, Ulster beating Munster in the final when he lined out along with some of the greats of the game like Paddy O'Rourke and Sean O'Neill of Down and Gabriel Kelly of Cavan. His daughter-in-law Anne accepted a bouquet flowers.


RETIREMENT PRESENTATIONS.
Presentations were also made to a number of officers who had stepped down from their positions some after a lengthy service as well as a presentation to the outgoing senior and under 21 hurling team manager Frank Brady. Eamonn O'Hara received a presentation to mark his work as Coaching Officer, a position he took up in 2009, working diligently to provide top-class coaching for all clubs in the county.

Siobhan McQuillan from the Rockcorry club has served as Oifigeach Cultura & Gaeilge from 1983 to 2007 when she took up the position of County PRO, serving with distinction and improving the quality and content of match programmes for all championship and county games.

Noel Mullaney who completed five years as Hurling Officer is a native of Tipperary with whom he played minor hurling but from an early age has been domiciled in Monaghan where he plied his trade with Monaghan Harps. He also represented Monaghan and was a selector when Monaghan won the All Ireland junior championship in 1997. He has been a hurling referee at county and provincial level for well over 10 years.

Brendan Farrell stepped down under the five year rule as Assistant Treasurer but the award was as much to recognise a lifetime of service to the GAA by him holding down a number of positions with his club Doohamlet while his acerbic asides were sometimes the highlight of many a county committee meetings. His wife Rita was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

Liam Stirrat who stepped down from his role as Central Council Delegate under the five year rule has also held the positions of Chairman, Vice-chairman, Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer since he first joined the Management Committee in 1993. As a player he represented Scotstown and Monaghan at all levels, was manager of Scotstown during their most successful period in the mid to late 70s and he also managed the county team. His wife May was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

JP Graham's service with the County Committee spanned three decades during which time he served with eight different county chairmen. He has held the positions PRO, Secretary, Delegate to Ulster Council, Cultural and Irish officer on two occasions as well as being chairman of the hurling board, the Millennium Committee and the 125 Committee. His wife Etta was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

(Footnote: Eamonn O'Hara, Siobhan McQuillan and Noel Mullaney were not present at the function).

Outgoing senior and U21 hurling team manager Frank Brady was also presented with a special award to mark his service in those capacities. He was first appointed for a three year spell in 2008 and during his time in charge Monaghan won the Allianz Hurling league division 4 twice gaining promotion to division 3B in 2010. The county also reached the semi-final of the Rackard Cup twice but one of his biggest disappointments would be failing to win an All Ireland U21 B championship. His wife Paddie was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

PRESENTATIONS TO REFEREES
SFC Final.
Gerard Treanor (Truagh) was in charge of his first Senior Football championship final last year but he also facilitates both Coiste na nÓg and CCC officiating at all levels from Under 12 upwards to Adult. He is also on the Inter County Panel for Cumann Gael Peil na mBan.

IFC Final.

Xavier Coyle (Tyholland) was in charge of the Intermediate Football championship final last year having also refereed the 2009 final and the 2006 Junior championship final.

JFC Final.
Kieran Mulligan (Aghabog) whom took up the whistle in 2004 was the man in the middle in the final of the Junior football championship last year having been in charge of the minor championship final back in 2006.

Patrick Caulfield (Blackhill) who played in goals in his younger days with Donaghmoyne before transferring to Blackhill took up refereeing in 2007. He was the Minor Referee of the Year in 2009 and picked up his second Minor Referee of the Year award on Friday night.

Stephen Mc Kenna (Carrickmacross HC) had an outstanding year last year, 2011, personally taking charge of the Senior Hurling Championship Final, the Senior Hurling Shield Final and the Minor Hurling Championship Final leaving him a worthy recipient of the Senior Hurling Referee of the Year for 2011.

Hugh Leonard (Oram) was named as Youth Referee of the Year having been one of the busiest and most efficient referees for Coiste na nÓg last year taking charge of both football and hurling fixtures, often at short notice.

Also presented on the night were mementoes to the referees whop had taken charge of the league finals. The Senior Football League Referee's Award went to Kevin Murtagh (Toome), the Intermediate Football League Referee's Award went to Brendan Walshe (Ballybay) and the Junior Football League Referee's Award went to Damian Helferty (Truagh).


PAT MC ENANEY.
Pat McEnaney was the recipient of a Special Award to mark his retirement as an inter county referees and in a short interview with guest speaker Jarlath Burns he agreed that probably the most talked about match that he was in charge of was the 1996 All Ireland final. He refereed 4 All Ireland finals in all and was described by Jarlath Burns as a role model for all aspiring referees. During the chit chat with Burns Pat McEnaney felt that his ability to communicate with players and giving respect meant getting respect were key elements in his approach to the job.

Jarlath Burns then went on to entertain the crowd with a series of humourous anecdotes mostly about Crossmaglen and Crossmaglen's players and the entertainment for the night was brought to a close with a short sketch by Frank Evans and Brendan Finan from Threemilehouse.

Referees Club Merit Award
A Referees Club Merit Award was presented to two clubs for the respect and courtesy shown to referees when they officiate at their venues. The award is selected by the referees themselves and Cumann Gaeil Triúcha and Magheracloone were joint winners for 2011. Gerard Treanor accepted on behalf of Truagh with Tom Freeman doing the honours for Magheracloone.

RAFFLE.
Proceedings on the night closed with a raffle where there was just one prize, two sets of season tickets for the forthcoming National Football League and two tickets for Monaghan's opening game in the Ulster senior football championship which was won by John Marron of Corduff. Tweet

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