Cavan half back Padraig Faulkner has received timely fillip ahead of his county's Ulster SFC clash with Armagh at the end of the month. The Kingscourt clubman has picked up the Quinn Building Products Ulster GAA Writers' award for April after the Breffni Blues secured promotion to the top flight.

Although the 21-year-old was on the losing side in the Croke Park decider against Ulster rivals Tyrone, he put in a superb shift in the final, and was deployed against three different Tyrone forwards throughout the 70 minutes.

"It is a fantastic achievement to win this award - my first individual honour," exclaimed Faulkner. "We had our work cut out to try and stop those Tyrone boys and it was very disappointing that we didn't manage to win the game but our aim, at the start of the league, was to win promotion and we did that.

"It looked bad for us when, after losing our first two games, we were eight points down to Meath at half-time in Navan but we managed to turn things around in the second half and that was why we eventually went on to gain promotion. That was the turning point of our league season."

Faulkner, like his dad Pat used to, wears the number three jersey with his club but he prefers a wider area to operate in.

"I don't particularly like full-back and I'm glad that the Cavan manager (Terry Hyland) allows me to push further upfield," he said.

Last week, he spent four days in Portugal with the Cavan squad and enjoyed the experience as they began preparations for the Ulster SFC quarter-final against Orchardmen. "That won't be an easy game, of course," he reflected.

Also in the mix for the April award were Fermanagh captain Eoin Donnelly, who starred against Tyrone in the league's final round, and Donegal hotshot striker Geraldine McLaughlin, who helped her team into the Lidl Ladies' NL Division 2 final.

However, Faulkner, who has one Ulster U21 medal, one Ulster MFC award and one Cavan Club Senior Champions medal in his collection, emerged the winner. He is the first Cavan winner since Martin Dunne who was honoured with the May 2013 award.

As his latest award, Faulkner received an engraved Belleek Living vase, specially designed silver cuff links from Carlingford Design House, training gear from O'Neill's International Sports and a medical kit bag from Kingsbridge Private Hospital via 3FiveTwo Group.

The presentation was made at Quinn's Corner, Dungannon, by Quinn Building Products area manager for Fermanagh/North Leitrim Damien Lee. Faulkner will also receive two tickets and overnight accommodation for the next UGAAWA Awards Banquet.

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