HEARNE AND DOYLE FETED
Top honours for Shels midfielder and Stars netminder
THE ICING was applied to the Shelmaliers’ cake after a memorable 2020 when two of the club’s key players collected the individual hurling awards in the inaugural Cáirde Loch Garman Glen Fuels club teams of the year ceremony on Saturday.
Conor Hearne’s outstanding form in the middle of the field for the Pettitt’s Senior champions saw him deservedly crowned overall club hurler of the year, while the young player accolade went to his sharpshooting colleague Ross Banville.
The night was also a personal triumph for Starlights shot-stopper and re-start specialist Pa Doyle, winner of the overall club footballer of the year.
And there was some consolation for runners-up Castletown, as their towering midfielder Liam Coleman was crowned the best young footballer of 2020.
Not surprisingly, that outrageous double-dummy point kicked by Ricky Fox near the end of the Dominic Smith Electrical
Senior football championship final earned him the score of the year honour.
And on the hurling front, the victor was Tadhg Ó Ceallaigh for the brilliant point he scored while under heavy pressure close to the left sideline during HWH-Bunclody’s extra-time exit to eventual champions Crossabeg-Ballymurn in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate semi-final.
The club hurling team of the year features six players from Shelmaliers, along with three apiece from Glynn-Barntown and
Crossabeg-Ballymurn, two from Naomh Eanna, and one from Oulart-The Ballagh.
Two sets of brothers were among the hurling winners, with Simon and Jody Donohoe selected in the corner-back slots, while Pádraig and Oisín Foley were named centre-back and left half-forward respectively.
The Foleys, along with ace attacker Niall Murphy, also share the distinction of being the only three players flying the flag for the Intermediate grade on the two chosen teams.
All 15 of the footballers selected are from Senior clubs, with champions Starlights leading the way with seven winners.
Castletown claimed three places, with two for St. Martin’s and one apiece for Shelmaliers, St. James’ and Horeswood.
The Malone brothers completed a notable across-the-codes double, with Brian picked at centre-back on the football team while younger sibling Glen is the hurling right half-back.
The long-serving duo of Brian and full-forward P.J. Banville also share the distinction of making the football team after being colleagues on the last Purple and Gold Stars selection in 2008.
Organisers were pleased with the overall success of an event that provided a welcome outlet for GAA enthusiasts to look back and debate the highs and lows of 2020 during a trying month for everyone.
The awards were streamed on Wexford GAA TV, and it is hoped that the scheme will now become a regular fixture on the domestic scene.
Congratulations to the 15 players selected on the club football team of the year for 2020, and to Pa Doyle (Starlights) - winner of footballer of the year