Murray And Dalton Set To Scoop Top Gongs At Bridge House/Offaly GAA Awards
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Damien Murray has been rewarded for his year's work with Coolderry with the Bridge House/Offaly GAA Senior hurler of the year award. MT50302
Coolderry's Damien Murray and Edenderry Captain Richie Dalton will be crowned the Bridge House Offaly GAA Senior hurler and footballer of the year respectively after the selection committee met last week to select and announce the full list of winners for 2011.
Friday the 13th of January 2012 is the date for the diary as the awards night takes place in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore.
The annual awards honour the top players in all grades from senior to minor and also incorporate handball, the hall of fame awards and the referees. 2011 is the first year in which the Ladies Football and Camoige are included and a great night in the new year is guaranteed.
Damien Murray will receive the top award in the hurling ranks after he starred in Coolderry's journey to their 29th Offaly senior title while also claiming their first ever Leinster title. Murray's accuracy from frees was a stand out feature of his play while he formed part of an awesome and deadly full forward line that included Cathal Parlon and Eoin Ryan.
The ace attacker notched up 2-54 in club championship hurling in 2011 with 2-40 of that coming in the Offaly championship. There was plenty of competition for the award with nearly half a dozen of his Coolderry team mates pushing him all the way.
The Senior football award went to Edenderry Captain Richie Dalton who anchored Edenderry to the Offaly championship defeating a highly fancied Clara side in the final.
Dalton was outstanding in midfield for the 'Reds' and also lined out at midfield for Offaly in their Leinster and Qualifier campaigns. He grew in stature with every game and was the stand out candidate in the Senior football field.
The awards were selected by a panel of local sports reporters comprising of Kevin Corrigan (Tullamore Tribune), Brian Lowry (Midland Tribune), Alan Walsh (Offaly Express), Damian Moran (Offaly Express), and Mary Dunne (Offaly Topic).
2011 also sees two more greats of the game enter into the hall of fame with Pat Joe Whelahan entering the hurling hall of fame.
Whelehan was the maestro behind most of Birr success's in the 90's and in the 2000's as they dominated Offaly hurling as well as claiming Leinster and All-Ireland honours. He was part of the backroom team in 1992 and managed Birr to their three other All-Ireland titles. He was also the man at the helm when Offaly broke through and won their first Leinster and All Ireland Minor hurling title way back in 1986 while having success with them in 1987 and 1989 as well.
In his playing days he won 10 county medals with his home club St Rynagh's between 1965 and 1976 while his sons - Brian, Simon and Barry went on to all be key men for both Birr and Offaly during their glory days.
The Football hall of fame award will be accepted by the 'Iron Man from Rhode' - Paddy McCormack. McCormack follows on from fellow 1961 full back line member Greg Hughes in claiming the award. McCormack went on to star in Offaly's first All-Ireland senior success when they defeated Galway in 1971 and retained his full back spot when they beat the mighty Kerry in 1972 to retain the Sam Maguire.
He also captained his club Rhode to an Offaly championship double in 1965 and 1966. He was known country wide for his no nonsense approach and was synonymous with Offaly football back in the 60's and 70's.
Also on the night Intermediate, Junior, U-21, Minor and Referees of the year will be presented in both codes with a handball award also being awarded. The Ladies football and camoige make a welcome addition to the list.
The full list of recipients is as follows;
Hurling
Senior Hurling - Damien Murray (Coolderry)
Intermediate Hurling - Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)
Junior Hurling - Eunan Martin (St Rynagh's)
U-21Hurling - David Magner (Ballinamere)
Minor Hurling - Peter Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
Camogie - Elaine Dermody (Drumcullen)
Hall Of Fame - Pat Joe Whelahan (St Rynagh's and Birr)
Referee - Brian Gavin (Clara)
Handball - Micheál O'Brien (Crinkle)
Football
Senior Football - Richie Dalton (Edenderry)
Intermediate Football - Joe Kilmurray (Rhode)
Junior Football - Noel Andrew Graham (Cappincur)
U-21 Football - Cian Donohoe (St Michael's)
Minor Football - Joe Maher (Ferbane/Belmont)
Ladies Football - Orlagh Heavey (Rhode)
Hall Of Fame- Paddy McCormack (Rhode)
Referee - Damien Brazil (Shannonbridge)
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