2011 Ulster Club All Stars

The brightest stars of the 2011 Ulster Club Championships gathered this week for the presentation of the first annual Gaelic Life Ulster Club All-Star Awards, held in association with Belleek Living and Squareball.

Quinn’s Corner, such a well-known venue for Gaels from across the province, was the venue for the ceremony as the great and the good of Ulster GAA came together for a night of celebration.

Guests of honour on the night were Ulster Camogie chairperson Kathleen Woods, Ulster Ladies chairperson Hugh Devenney, and John Devenney representing Ulster GAA.

Dominic McClements, general manager of Gaelic Life’s parent company, North-West News Group, revealed that the inaugural awards had been a tremendous success which had “captured the imagination of the GAA public,” having attracted more than 9000 votes through the Gaelic Life Facebook page an additional 2500 text votes.

With the BBC’s Thomas Kane the man in charge, the assembled winners, their partners, friends and family members were entertained by the Ulster Scór na nOg champions, Omagh St Enda’s Ballad Group as proceedings got underway.

Of course Crossmaglen were the dominant force, with four Rangers stars on the 15, as James Morgan, Stephen Finnegan, Aaron Kernan, Aaron Cunningham and Jamie Clarke took their places. Ulster senior finalists Burren got two nods, Kevin McKernan at centre-back and sharpshooter Donal O’Hare selected at corner-forward. Latton’s Eoin Lennon at midfield, Roslea’s Conor Quigley at corner-back and Glenswilly captain Michael Murphy were the others to make the cut.

But this was not just about the senior club stars. Ulster Intermediate Club champions Craigbane saw three of their stars collect honours, with Fergal Crossan at full-back, Blaine Gormley at midfield and Lee Moore at wing-forward. The Junior Club Championship also got due recognition as Culloville goalkeeper Kieran McMahon and Cremartin’s centre-forward and captain Darren Bishop also secured their places.

Then it was down to the individual accolades, with St John’s attacking star Conor Johnston picking up the Young Hurler of the Year award, while Lee Moore’s disappointment at Craigbane’s All-Ireland title race exit at the weekend was eased somewhat as he collected his Young Footballer of the Year accolade.

Derrytresk managerial duo Paul Hughes and Paul Canavan were on hand to collect their Football Managers of the Year award, informing host Thomas Kane that Derrytresk “have a reputation as being a friendly club” despite the bad press received in recent days. Loughiel boss PJ O’Mullan also took time out from his side’s preparations for their upcoming All-Ireland semi-final to collect his award as Hurling Manager of the Year.

The females of the species were also well represented, Loughiel defensive ace Emma Connolly on hand to pick up her Camogie Club Player of the Year award ahead of her side’s All-Ireland semi-final next weekend, while Sperrin Og’s Eimear Teague was able to recall what it felt like to win in an All-Ireland final as she collected the Ladies Club Player of the Year accolade.

The two main presentations of the evening were of course the Hurler of the Year and Footballer of the Year awards. First up was Middletown’s Ryan Gaffney, fresh from helping his side secure their place in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling final as he picked up his award, before Crossmaglen’s Aaron Cunningham returned to the podium to pick up his second trophy of the evening as he was unveiled as Ulster Club Footballer of the Year as proceedings came to a close.

Pictured is Ulster Council delegate John Devenney presenting Aaron Cunningham with his Player of the Year award.