BIG NIGHT OF
THIS Saturday night in the Arklow Bay Hotel the stars of Wicklow GAA’s 2019 season will be honoured at the annual Garden County GAA awards in an event that promises to be an entertaining and enjoyable reflection of a thrilling year across Gaelic football, hurling, handball, camogie and ladies football.
MC Jimmy Dunne will shepherd his willing and obedient flock through the evening with the usual aplomb and class while all kinds of glamorous gown and stylish suits will make their way to the stage to the sounds of much cheering and applause.
A hearty and delicious meal will be consumed, great conversation engaged in, memories and yarns recounted and friendships rekindled.
CLUB FOOTBALL
Tommy Kelly
St Patrick’s
A stunning season for St Patrick’s sharpshooter Tommy Kelly earned him the club player of the year award for 2019.
The talented full-forward blasted his way through the Senior championship until he came face to face with Ciaran Hyland but even with the superb defending of the experienced AGB star Kelly was still able to cause damage as Casey O’Brien’s men secured a magical two in a row of Senior crowns.
In the Leinster campaign Kelly wasn’t found wanting; firing over a few screamers when required against Ferbane and showing that he is indeed one of the best attackers in the county at this moment in time.
Here’s hoping for a wonderful 2020 season for the St Patrick’s star.
CLUB HURLING
Christy Moorehouse Bray Emmets
Bray Emmets’ return to the summit of Wicklow club hurling was brought about to some extent by the excellence of Christy Moorehouse who exploded into life in the early stages of the final against Glenealy and inspired his colleagues to storm to a wonderful victory.
Christy, like Bray Emmets in many ways, had not realised his potential over the last season or two but all that changed in 2019 when the sharpshooter took the championship by storm and helped drive his colleagues back to championship glory.
COUNTY FOOTBALL
Mark Kenny Ballymanus
A disappointing season for the Wicklow Senior footballers shouldn’t take from some fine individual performances over the season, and Ballymanus man Mark Kenny was one of the players who maintained a high standard of showing throughout a difficult league and championship.
Always producing quality performances for club and county, Kenny’s energy and his abundance of natural talent and pace helped set him apart in the last season for Kerry’s John Evans.
Hopefully there’s a big season ahead of the Ballymanus man under new manager Davy Burke.
COUNTY HURLING
John Henderson
Bray Emmets
The class of Bray’s John Henderson shone through when he donned the county jersey in 2019 as he drove his county to league promotion and a competitive but ultimately disappointing Christy Ring campaign.
With John Henderson you are always guaranteed a number of things when he pulls on the county colours.
The first is absolute commitment. He is never found wanting when it comes to putting everything behind the wheel.
The second is unfailing courage in the heat of battle and in the face of any foe and that is such a vital ingredient on the hurling field.
The third is his wonderful brand of hurling, that which screams to the opposing team that you may charge down upon us without mercy but you shall be repelled at all costs.
INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL
Cian O’Sullivan Dunlavin
Dunlavin’s story in 2019 was a marvelous one as the men from the Kildare border rejoiced as captain Sean Phelan lifted the cup after a resounding win over Kilmac in Aughrim.
Key to that campaign was the performance of the lively spark of footballing brilliance, Cian O’Sullivan.
Always popping up for significant scores, always a threat, always a force to be reckoned with, O’Sullivan is a very worthy winner of this award.
INTERMEDIATE HURLING
Nick Skelton
Carnew Emmets
You want dedication, devotion, honesty, integrity, absolute effort and unending loyalty then you need look no further than Carnew’s
Nick Skelton who was announced as the IHC player of the year award winner.
The intelligent Skelton has toiled for many a day in the Carnew jersey, good ones and bad ones and his role in their Intermediate hurling success of 2019 was both vital and expected given the standards he sets for himself and his colleagues.
JUNIOR A FOOTBALL
Stephen O’Connor
An Tochar
All dangermen from all clubs in the Intermediate grade had better learn the name of Stephen O’Connor from An Tochar.
This athletic, tussle-haired adonis is on the way to ruin your lives and you had better prepare yourself for one of the tightest marking defenders in the county since the likes of Ciaran Hyland. A class act of many in a wonderful year for the Roundwood men.
JUNIOR HURLING
Robert Lambert Aughrim
Aughrim’s resurgence in the