TO BE CELEBRATED
Baltinglass GAA Club supporters from here on in after his excellent under-20 football championship campaign that ended with his lifting the cup in Aughrim after defeating AGB in the decider.
LUKE DORGAN
Minor Football
Éire Óg Greystones’ magical victory over Baltinglass in the Minor football final of 2018 in Pearse’s Park in Arklow was no flash in the pan but instead the result of huge work at underage in the north Wicklow club and this year’s Minor Footballer of the Year award winner, Luke Dorgan, is the perfect example of the value of such efforts by any club.
Dorgan grabbed two goals in that stunningly exciting Minor final in Pearse’s Park when the Greystones men looked in major trouble until they attacked, and Dorgan fired home a goal to help drive them on.
A super season for the talented Greystones footballer sees him collect this award on Saturday night and here’s to many more super seasons in the year ahead.
WARREN KAVANAGH
County Hurling
Seamus Murphy realised the importance of Warren Kavanagh to his Wicklow team and Warren Kavanagh repaid that knowledge with a season of reliability and effort that the Glenealy man delivers unprompted in club or county jersey.
Superb spatial awareness, deft hurling skills, absolute bravery and pure doggedness are the traits that lift Kavanagh above the average hurler at this level and the Glenealy man is always a pleasure to watch on the hurling field.
The dual star collected a wonderful double of Senior crowns at club level in 2017 and was only minutes away from repeating that feat in 2018.
He is a man who will hopefully wear the county jersey for many years to come.
CIAN STAUNTON
Club Hurler
Having an excellent goalkeeper gives any team a massive boost in any game. It gives defenders a certain confidence, it makes attackers consider taking a point and it provides a very helpful platform for a team to go on and scale new heights.
Glenealy’s Cian Staunton is an excellent goalkeeper, and the number one jersey in that club has been worn by many a legend so it would not be a role without pressure. Staunton takes this pressure and turns it into man of the match performances, like that in the county final this year against Carnew.
Pushing hard now for a starting place in the county team, Staunton is a cert to torment attackers for many years to come.
RAY NOLAN
Has there ever been a sweeter hurler to look at in the county than Avondale’s Ray Nolan?
His speed of thought on the ball, his subtlety, his striking, his accuracy, his intelligence, his sublime skill make him a pure pleasure to watch in action.
Then you add in his goodness as a person, his undeniable soundness, his pleasant demeanor, his willingness to have a chat and the craic and what you have is a fine person mixed in with a wonderful hurler.
His performance in the county final last season and his performances throughout the season are why he’s picking up this award on Saturday night. His service to hurling and his genuine nature as a person is why he‘ll always be a legend in this county.
ANDREW KAVANAGH
Junior Hurling
His performance in the county final in Newcastle against Bray Emmets was a wonderful reflection on his skill set and his ability as a hurler.
Andrew Kavanagh can dominate a game and he helped Barndarrig to that mighty championship victory that breathes a soft but incredibly vital sense of hope into the suffering body of Junior hurling in Wicklow.
Currently working his way back from injury, expect to see the Barndarrig man on the county squad in the very near future.
EOIN KAVANAGH
Minor Hurler
Strong, capable, skilful, full of passion and possessing that competitive edge that sets a hurler apart from the rest, Tomacork’s Eoin Kavanagh is a fully deserving winner of the Minor Hurler of the Year award for 2018.
The centre back shone for his team in the county final and indeed for the whole championship and league at under-17 level.
Kavanagh is superb at reading the game and getting across or back to cut out the danger of an attack and he is adept at launching his side on attack and dropping over a few bombs between the sticks himself.
A marvellous hurler and seeing a talent like this emerging gives hurling fans hope for the future.
JOHN MURPHY
Club Person
County Board meetings can be strange events at the best of times but one man who is always likleely to pose a relevant question is AGB’s John Murphy.
AS well as his club delegate responsibilities, Murphy’s efforts for his club have earned his this award and it is a fully deserved one for the popular John.
PAUL BEHAN
Club Person
Shillelagh might have slipped away in recent years due to changes in society and dropping population numbers but rest assured they will be back at the top table of Wicklow football in the not too distant future thanks to the work of Paul Behan and his associates as they work tirelessly with the juvenile section of their club to turn things around and create a bright future.
KIM CONNORS
Ladies Football Blessington’s Kim Connors enjoyed a superb year for club and county last season and is a richly deserving award winner at Saturday night’s Garden County awards.
The Wicklow netminder was a pivotal part of Mick O’Rourke’s county team as they secured promotion from Division 4 and contested the Leinster Intermediate football final against Laois.
A real talent between the sticks, Connors has plenty more to offer club and county as 2019 swings into action.
JESSIE BYRNE
Camogie
Knockananna secure a three-ina-row of Senior camogie crowns last year by beating old enemies Donard-the glen in the decider in Baltinglass.
Their campaign wasn’t as simple as they would have liked and they were forced to come through some very tough games in the process.
It’s players like Jessie Byrne that come to the fore when the pressure is on and it’s down to warriors like her that Knockananna enjoyed thjeir marvellous success in 2018.
A fierce competitor who always gives her all on the field of battle, Byrne is a fantastic role model for any young camogie players in the county who might one day imagine themselves winning a Senior title.
PAT DOYLE
Lifetime Acheivement
A man who could easily be known as Mr. Tinahely, Pat Doyle has given a lifetime of service to Tinahely GAA Club and for that reason he is being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award on Saturday night.
Pat has served in almost every role on the club committee, including chairman, secretary and many more.
Described by one local as a ‘vital cog’ in the Tinahely GAA Club, Pat Doyle’s legacy will live on for generations to come.
JIM BOLLARD
Lifetime Achievement
You think Stratford-Grangecon and you think Jim Bollard, simple as that.
Another man who has given decades of service and loyalty to the proud club in the west. He’s shared their highes, felt their lows, lended a shoulder to the wheel in times of need and always pushed on when times were good.
A man of infinite respect and class, a more worthy recipient you’d be hard to find.