380 attend the Bridge House Hotel Offaly GAA Awards night

The Bridge House Hotel Offaly GAA awards night was held in the Bridge House Hotel on Saturday Janaury 12th with over 380 people attending. Guests included our 17 award recipients and inducted into the Hall of Fame were two Offaly GAA legends Tony McTague and Pat Fleury. Both men spoke of their honour to be chosen and are delighted to be picking up this honour at this stage of their lives. Both men have given so much to club and county both on and off the field and also have captained Offaly to glory. New chairman Padraig Boland spoke about his journey as chairperson of Offaly and how honoured he is to lead Offaly for the coming year. He urged Offaly supporters to continue or indeed to come back and get behind Offaly highlighting the great work been done at present by Paul Bell, Tom Moloney, Brian Lowry and all the people behind Club Faithful. Padraig also spoke about Offaly' s long term relationship with Carroll Cuisine and praised and thanked them sincerely as the country' longest sponsor of a county team. Carrolls have committed to Offaly in 2013 and are now sponsoring Offaly since 1991. Padraig also paid tribute to all the award recipients and spoke very highly of each of them. He made a spoecial mention Kilcormac / Killoughey who have had a superb 2012 lifting the Sean Robbins cup for the first time adding Minor, Div 1 League, Under 16 and Junior Football before going on to win the AIB Leinster Club Hurling title last month. Padraig wished Offaly's managers Ollie Baker and Emmett McDonnell the very best in 2013 and urgerd the faithful county to keep the faith and remain positive. Noel McCann of the Bridge House Hotel spoke about his honour for the Bridge House to continue to support this awards night and also to continue to provide gym membership for the county team's players. There is no doubt that Noel and all of his staff put tremndous effort into the awards night and also the great support that they give all year round. The music on the night was provioded by the excellent Mercury and all 380 guests were treated to a wonderful banquet and a very entertaining night.

The Bridge House Hotel Offaly GAA Award winners 2012
2
3 Number Award Winner Club
4 1 Minor Hurling Cillian Kiely Kilcormac / Killoughey
5 2 Under 21 Hurling Stephen Quirke St Rynaghs
6 3 Junior Hurling Conor Doughan Shinrone
7 4 Intermediate Hurling Eoin Kelly Lusmagh
8 5 Senior Hurling Ciarán Slevin Kilcormac / Killoughey
9 6 Camoige Sheila Sullivan Birr
10 7 Handball Michael O Brien Crinkle
11 8 Minor Football Conor McNamee Rhode Óg
12 9 Under 21 Football Anton Sullivan St Michaels
13 10 Junior Football Dan Currams Kilcormac / Killoughey
14 11 Intermediate Football David Egan St Brigids
15 12 Senior Football Mark Dunne Rhode
16 13 Ladies Football Siobhan Flannery St Rynaghs
17 14 Hurling Referee Brian Gavin Clara
18 15 Football Referee Noel Cooney Erin Rovers
19 16 Hurling Hall of Fame Pat Fleury Drumcullen
20 17 Football Hall of Fame Tony McTague Ferbane


MICHAEL O'BRIEN - HANDBALL

Following on from his world Championship success in 2009 and World Police & Fireman's Games glory in 2011, tonight's Handball recipient was back on the International stage in 2012, when partnered by Ciaran Neary from Kilkenny, they landed another world title in the shape of the World Men's 'B' Doubles up in Citywest.

Tonight he collects his third handballer of the year award and coming from the famed Crinkle club, he carries on a strong Handball tradition. 2012 also saw him play a vital part in the Crinkle club win the 40x20 Leinster Inter Club title while also taking the top prize in the Offaly Intermediate singles and doubles competitions.
Also a finalist in the Offaly Senior doubles final, this experienced handballer further enhanced his bustling reputation with another year to remember.

Crinkle club is renowned for producing top handball players and this man is certainly upholding that proud tradition. The handballer of the year is one half of the Mens 'B' Doubles World Champions, Micheál O'Brien

CIARAN SLEVIN - SENIOR HURLING

Given the historic year that the Kilcormac/Killoughey club have had, its no surprise that the senior hurler of the year hails from the fields of the double 'K's'. 2012 saw them claim their first ever Offaly senior hurling championship and following on from there they also went on to beat what the province of Leinster had to offer on route to laying claim to a maiden Leinster title.
The Bridge House/Offaly GAA senior hurler of the year played an immense part in that journey. He led his K/K charges with esteem and passion from pillar to post and wasn't found wanting when needed most. His Captains display in grinding out a victory over Shamrocks in the group stages, to a virtuoso display on the biggest stage on County Final day, this all action wing forward notched up a whopping 3-74 from their opening round draw with Coolderry right up to their Leinster final win over Oulart The Ballagh.
The K/K band wagon will continue to move on in 2013 and there is no doubt that one of their greatest ever Stalwarts - the late Mick Spain is looking down tonight with great joy as his Grandson picks up this award.
Ladies and Gentleman, please show your appreciation for the recently engaged Bridge House/Offaly GAA senior hurler of the year - Ciaran Slevin.


EOIN KELLY - INTERMEDIATE HURLING
2012 is a year that our Intermediate hurler of the year won't forget in a hurry. Having started off the year as Offaly's goalkeeping under study, this Lusmagh clubman made his Inter County championship debut between the sticks for Offaly down in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on a day that Offaly exited the championship after a gallant effort.
He impressed many that day and he went on to star for his club in an outfield role as the Summer progressed been their lynchpin in the centre back role. Lusmagh hit all the right notes on route to the Intermediate final with near neighbours St Rynagh's as they looked to make an instant return to the senior ranks.
In the County final, his contribution was vital. An inspirational display coupled with a haul of 2-2 set his side well on their way to a famous victory. An excellent long range free taker and a man with sublime hurling skills.
Ladies and Gentlemen would you please put your hands together for the Bridge House/Offaly GAA Intermediate hurler of the year, Lusmagh's Eoin Kelly.


CONOR DOUGHAN - JUNIOR HURLING
The junior hurling award has seen a wide age spectrum when it comes to the recipients. From a youthful Des Egan back in 2007 to the seasoned Michael Duignan in 2010, it has always been one of the most fascinating awards. Tonight we go back to youth and to the Shinrone club where tonight's recipient joins club men Paul Burke and Michael Cleary on the roll of honour.
Still in the minor grade, he starred at midfield for the Shinrone on route to their junior crown but also had a standout year in the Minor grade and Captained Offaly in their championship campaign.
A teak tough customer with an engine to boot, this young man was inspirational from frees and from play and he defied his years to show immense leadership and guile when games entered the melting pot.
He is a young man with a bright future and tonight we salute him as the Bridge House/Offaly GAA Junior hurler of the year. Ladies and Gentlemen Conor Doughan.


STEPHEN QUIRKE - U21 HURLING
In a year of mixed emotions for the St Rynagh's club, their crowning glory was their U21 success back in the spring. Final defeats followed in the Intermediate and Senior grades but tonight's U21 hurler of the year was one of their shining lights throughout the year.
A speedy and accurate corner forward, he was their top forwards on route to the senior final and also was one of better performers in a disappointing year for the County Under 21 team.
Accustomed to the number 13 shirt, he has a super eye for goal and he helped steer his club to yet another Under 21 title beating St Brendan's in the final. He was outstanding in St Rynagh's semi final win over Shinrone in the senior championship and was always a threat to any defence he came up against.
Tonight we honour him as the Bridge House/Offaly GAA Under 21 hurler of the year. Put your hands together for Stephen Quirke.


CILLIAN KIELY - MINOR HURLING
Recognised the County over as one of the brightest prospects within the County, the accolade of minor hurler of the year comes to this man despite only been fresh out of the U16 grade. In 2012 he starred at centre back on both the U16 and Minor County final winning teams for Kilcormac/Killoughey and also retained his mantle as Leinster Under 16 Poc Fada champion.
A tower of a man, he commands respect and wears his heart on his sleeve without hesitation. To say he has a bright future in the game would be an understatement. His pivotal penalty in the minor semi final coupled with his brace of 90 yard frees in the County final proved he is a man who can deal with pressure.
From a club that is now on the crest of a wave, this excellent talent also started for the Offaly minors for the second year in a row in 2012, a measure of the talent that bestows him. With two more years in the minor grade, the future looks bright for him. The Bridge House/Offaly GAA Minor hurler of the year is Cillian Kiely.


BRIAN GAVIN - REFEREE
Collecting his third hurling referee award in a row and his sixth in all, he must be doing something right. Following on from a monumental 2011 in which he refereed his first All Ireland senior hurling final, this Clara club man once again applied his high standards to the games he officiated in 2012.
He had a quieter year on the inter county front but he stayed clear of any controversy which in itself is the sign of a good referee. He took charge of the Offaly Intermediate final between Lusmagh and St Rynagh's. He was also the man in the middle for the All Ireland semi final between Galway and Cork while also taking charge of the Munster semi final between the rebels and Tipp and remains one of the most respected referees in the Country. The Bridge House/Offaly GAA Referee of the year is Clara's Brian Gavin.


SHEILA SULLIVAN - CAMOGIE
In an historic year for Offaly on the Camogie scene it was only fitting that the County should receive its second ever All Star. Tonight's Camogie player of the year collected an All Star at left corner back at the tail end of 2012 and was one of the most deserving recipients on the night.
Having won Junior and Intermediate All Ireland titles with Offaly in 2009 and 2010, she has been part of the setup through thick and thin and reaching the All Ireland senior semi final for the first time in 2012 was an iconic achievement for both her and her teammates.
A superb reader of the game and a player that is totally dedicated to the cause, she performed brilliantly from pillar to post for Offaly and indeed was unlucky not to reach a County final with her club Birr.
Having tested herself against the top attackers in the game, she has come through with flying colours and is a credit to the work been put by everyone in Camogie circles. The Bridge House/Offaly GAA Camogie player of the year is Sheila Sullivan.


SIOBHAN FLANNERY - LADIES FOOTBALL
Tonight we honour an exceptional dual star as the Ladies Footballer of the year. She has shown exceptional commitment to both Offaly Ladies Football and Camogie teams in 2012 not withstanding her commitment to her club.
A regular at centre back on the Offaly Ladies football team and at midfield on the Camogie team, this all action St Rynagh's player gets her just rewards for an outstanding year.
She starred at full back as St Rynagh's won their first ever Senior Offaly Ladies title beating Rhode in the final. While others got the scoring plaudits, the 22 year olds contribution at full back made her stand out from the rest.
Also a nominee for a Camogie All Star, she took 2012 by storm. To be as committed to two County panels and to produce the high level of performances on both fronts was nothing short of outstanding.
Helping her club make history was the highlight of her year and in a time when Ladies football and Camogie are making huge strides within the County, she is well and truly to the forefront.
A member of the Defence Forces and not afraid of a bit of combat on the field, please welcome the Bridge House/Offaly GAA Ladies Footballer of the year - Siobhan Flannery.

PAT FLEURY - HALL OF FAME

After claiming the All Ireland Hurling title in 1985, the Offaly team stood on the steps of the Hogan Stand and listened to tonight's inductee into the Hurling Hall Of Fame, who Captained Offaly to triumph over Galway, declare to the crowds. "What happened us last year has finally been buried and thanks be to God."

As passionate an Offaly man as you will meet, he served the green, white and gold with everything he had both as a player right up through the grades and as a manager who guided them to Leinster and All Ireland finals in 2000.

Born on Friday the 18th May in 1956, the Drumcullen club man went on to one of the clubs finest exponents and one they are immensely proud of to this very day. Since making his senior Offaly debut back in the Walsh Cup against Kilkenny in 1975, he made 99 appearances between league and championship for Offaly treating each with the importance it deserved.

It all started in the Presentation Brothers school in Birr and he went on to win an All-Ireland Colleges' SHC B medal 1973 before moving on to University College Galway where he qualified to become a Secondary School teacher. During his spell in the West, he lay claim to a coveted Fitzgibbon Cup medal in 1977 beating Maynooth in the final.

The employment trail took him to Limerick and to St Michael's CBS where he taught not only academics but also his first love, hurling. There was success there too and in 1993 he led the school to their first Dr Harty Cup since 1967.

It was in the Offaly jersey that he will be best remembered. He was part of the 1980 team that won a Leinster title and burst on to the scene. One year later he was also a member of the team that won Offaly's first ever All Ireland title when they defeated Galway in that famous final. An All Star followed for his exploits in 1981 while also winning one in 1984, but the journey was far from over.

An agonising defeat at the hands of Cork in the Centenary final in 1984 hit the players hard and it is believed that his rallying speech at their home coming was the catalyst for Offaly going on to reclaim the Liam McCarthy Cup in 1985.

To this day he stands the only man outside of the St Rynagh's club to have Captained Offaly to an All Ireland title, something that all in the Drumcullen club are extremely proud off.

Former Drumcullen GAA Chairperson, the late Joe Dooley, said the most glorious memory of hurling he ever had was seeing tonight's inductee hold the McCarthy Cup aloft in Rath on the Monday night after the 1985 All-Ireland Final.

In April of 1994, the double All Ireland winner and four time Leinster Championship winner was honoured with a 'This is your life' style function by his native Drumcullen. Stars from yesteryear flocked to the event as he was held in very high esteem in all corners of our hurling mad Country. Speaking on the night he proclaimed that "I always stood an inch taller any time I pulled on the
Drumcullen jersey."

Whether he be in the 'sash' or the 'tricolour', he played with passion and tenacity. He will go down as one of the greatest ever corner backs to step foot on a hurling field and we as a County are proud to call him our own.

Ladies and Gentlemen will you please be upstanding for the man who Captained Offaly to All Ireland success in 1985 and the latest inductee into the Bridge House/Offaly GAA Hall of Fame, Pat Fleury.

Hall of Fame - Tony McTague (Ferbane)

THE litmus test for any top class footballer is whether his performances are still remembered when his era is a distant memory and tonight's football hall of fame inductee has certainly stood the test of time.
Even now his performances are still spoken of with a mixture of awe and admiration. A proud Ferbane man, he burst onto the scene as Offaly football began its great awakening in the 1960s.
Inspired by the feats of the great men who brought the Leinster Senior Football Championship to Offaly for the first time in 1960 and 1961, he was a key member of the Offaly team made history by winning the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship in 1964.
That first ever All-Ireland minor title had a massive impact on Offaly football. Backboned by emerging players from that team and stalwarts from the great 1960/1961 team, Offaly finally began to challenge for the game's top honours.
The Ferbane man quickly graduated to the Offaly senior football team and soon established himself as one of the game's top forwards. A great stylist and deadly accurate from play and frees, he was Offaly's main score getter during a very memorable career.
He was left half forward when Offaly returned to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1969, only to lose out to Kerry. He won the first of his four Leinster senior football medals in 1969 and when Offaly finally made the ultimate breakthrough by winning Sam Maguire for the first time in 1971, he was in sensational form and his ability to make and take scores was instrumental to the success.
As captain, he maintained that sparkling form when Offaly retained their Leinster and All-Ireland titles in 1972, hammering Kerry in the All-Ireland final replay and it was one of his life's proudest moments when he lifted the Sam Maguire Cup in the Hogan Stand. Fittingly, his displays were recognised with All-Star selection in 1971 and 1972.
He won his fourth Leinster SFC medal in 1973 but Offaly's dreams of three in a row ended in disappointment when they were beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Never afraid to speak his mind or look for the best for players, his intercounty career was over by the mid '70s but he continued to make a vast contribution to the GAA, both in Ferbane and at county level.
He won Senior Football Championship medals with Ferbane in 1971, 1974 and 1976 and later served the club as manager and selector on various teams including, manager. He has been a selector on various Offaly teams and is one of those Offaly's footballers whose displays are still remembered with a tingle of excitement.
Also a very good golfer, the hall of fame for football is Tony McTague.

Senior Football - Mark Dunne (Rhode)
There was no surprise when Rhode regained the Dowling Cup in 2012 and the performances of the senior footballer of the year played a major part in their success.
A powerful footballer with a great engine, his ability to cover ground and tireless running was a feature of Rhode's year. Playing primarily at centre half forward but also used at midfield, his direct running created plenty of openings for the natural finishers inside him while he also weighed in with some crucial scores himself.
A native of Laois, he played with the Rock before transferring to Rhode in 2010, winning a senior medal that year and playing a crucial role in the latter stages of the championship. Also on the Offaly senior football panel last year, the senior footballer of the year is Mark Dunne.




Intermediate Football - David Egan (St Brigid's)
A man of the match performance by the intermediate footballer of the year in the quarter-final win over Shamrocks provided one of the defining moments in St Brigid's year as they returned to senior ranks by winning the Intermediate Football Championship.
One of the most experienced players on the Brigid's team, he was rock steady throughout. Playing very composed football and distributing the ball very well, his two goals against a fancied Shamrocks team provided the impetus for the Croghan men to fulfill their dreams.
A very accurate forward, he has represented Offaly at all levels. The intermediate footballer of the year is David Egan.

Junior Football - Dan Currams (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
Winning the Junior Football Championship may have paled beside their senior hurling success but it was still a very sweet part of a never to be forgotten year for Kilcormac/Killoughey.
The junior footballer of the year had a fantastic year. Also outstanding for the senior hurlers, he was in sensational form on the football team and his ability to score and drive through the middle was a big feature of K/K's year as they won the Tom Quinn Cup with remarkable ease.
Equally adept at hurling and football, he has represented Offaly in all grades in both codes. The junior footballer of the year is Dan Currams.

U-21 Football - Anton Sullivan (St Michael's and Rhode)
The U-21 footballer of the year is no stranger to this awards night, having previously won the U-21 and minor accolades and it is probably only a matter of time before he wins the senior award.
He was brilliant as St Michael's retained the U-21 Football Championship in 2012 while he also played a hugely significant role as Rhode won the Senior Football Championship.
A hugely exciting forward, he recovered well from a bad looking shoulder injury near the end of the season and represents one of the main hopes of Offaly making progress this year and ahead. The U-21 footballer of the year is Anton Sullivan.

Minor football - Conor McNamee (Rhode)
The biggest single achievement in the Offaly football world last year was St Mary's Secondary School bringing the All-Ireland Senior 'A' Colleges title to the county for the first time and the minor footballer of the year was in magnificent form for them.
His performances at midfield provided a real launching pad for the Edenderry school and the quality of their displays was heart warming.
He played well for Offaly minors while he graduated onto the Rhode senior team before the end of the year, playing very well as they regained the Dowling Cup. A member of a great Rhode family and an Offaly senior star in the making, the minor footballer of the year is Conor McNamee.

Referee - Noel Cooney (Erin Rovers)
One of the most EXPERIENCED officials in Offaly, the football referee took charge of his eight Senior Football Championship final in 2012.
Refereeing since the early 1980s, he has long been one of the top referees in the county. He has officiated at finals in all grades, including hurling deciders and is a brilliant referee. No nonsense but fair, he has kept himself in great physical shape all his life and is an expert on the rules book.
He handed the 2012 final between Rhode and Clara in a very firm and honest manner, contributing to an open game of football. In the 1990s, he was a prominent intercounty referee and he is now a referees assessor at national level. The football referee of the year is Noel Cooney. Tweet

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