Just rewards for one of Wicklow’s finest hurlers
BRAY’S John Henderson cut a suave and sophisticated figure as he strode manfully onto the stage to be presented with his Champion 15 award by Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael John Horan and GPA Chairman Seamus Hickey during the PwC All-Stars 2019 at the Convention Centre in Dublin last weekend.
A brief number of hours later the Bray defender was catching and clearing ball with his usual aplomb and class when Dublin’s Scoil Ui Chonaill came calling to Aughrim for the Leinster IHC quarter-final.
The award is a fine achievement for a hurler who plays consistently well for club and county.
‘Absolutely delighted to get it,’ said John after the game in Aughrim on Saturday. ‘Obviously, it’s nice recognition. Just to be there, rubbing shoulders with some great names. It’s a great night in general. Obviously, I had to come home a little bit earlier than last year, but I still had a good night and it’s nice to get it.
‘It hasn’t been bad year I suppose. With the county we were delighted to win the league. We were disappointed that we missed out narrowly to qualify for the semi-finals of the Christy Ring, beaten on score difference.
‘This year, with the group we’ve got, we’ve a chance. Obviously,
Offaly are coming to town in Aughrim. We’ll be playing them in the league and championship and it’s great, they’re one of the traditional counties who play hurling. It’s a great challenge for our lads and Eamonn Scallan got lads back working already. He’s putting plans in place for the year ahead and I’m looking forward to it,’ he added.
Sunday’s win sends Bray Emmets on a crash course with Offaly’s Seir Kieran in a home semi-final.
The quick start against the Dublin ‘B’ champions was key to the victory but the sloppy concession of the goal after half-time will have to be worked on.
‘We wouldn’t normally be renowned for quick starts but that’s two games in a row now. We started well but there were one or two lads who missed out today, Michael Boland and a couple of injuries, but the lads who came in took their chances, Davy Maloney and Eoin McCormack, they would have both been very disappointed to have not started the final, so it’s testament to those lads the work they’ve put in that they came in today and slotted in.
‘I thought Eoin McCormack was brilliant today, some of the scores he got were really good.
‘At the back then, once we had the bit of a lead, we said we would keep it tight.
‘Wouldn’t be happy with the goal. It was kind of similar to the county final again, Glenealy got a goal after half-time, and here again today, it’s something that we’ll have to look at going forward.
‘We’re just looking forward to it now, it’s a great chance for us.
‘It’s a home semi-final. We’re going to knuckle down for the next two weeks, enjoy tonight and then Paul Carley will get us back training hard,’ added the Bray and Wicklow star.