Offaly GAA, camogie and ladies football award winners announced

THE Offaly GAA players and referees of the year have been selected and will receive their awards at a function in the Tullamore Court Hotel in January – along with two footballers and hurlers from the 1980s, Brendan Lowry and Paddy Kirwan who will be inducted into the hall of fame. The camogie and ladies football winners will also be feted on the night.

The football and hurling players and referees were selected by the local media and Charlie Mitchell is the senior hurler of the year for the second year in succession.

Cathal Flynn's sensational form for Offaly as they won Division 3 of the National Football League has been recognised with selection as the senior footballer of the year. He continued his excellent form with Ferbane as they reached the Senior Football Championship final, losing out to Tullamore.

Senior B, intermediate, junior and u20 footballers and hurlers of the year have also been selected, apart from U20 football which will be announced after that championship is completed in two weeks time.

Clodiagh Gaels' Adam Kinahan is the hurling referee of the year while Tullamore's Kevin Williamson is the football referee of the year. Kinahan refereed the Senior Hurling Championship final between Kilcormac-Killoughey and Shinrone while the selection panel have broken from the usual convention of giving the football award to the senior football final referee Marius Stones.

That is absolutely no reflection on Stones who had an very good final and an excellent year but he already has a couple of awards and it was decided Williamson deserved recognition for his consistent efficiency both this year and in recent years. Tullamore have reached the last five finals in succession and only for that Williamson would have refereed at least a couple of them. He handled several big games this year, including the senior “B” football final, and is easily one of the top football referees in Offaly.

The Offaly GAA award winners were chosen by Mary Dunne, Kevin Corrigan,  Brian Gavin, Randall Scally, Kevin Egan, Joe Troy and John O'Callaghan with the Offaly GAA Management Committee picking the hall of fame recipients :

Senior footballer of the year – Cathal Flynn, Ferbane;

Senior hurler of the year – Charlie Mitchell, Kilcormac-Killoughey;

Senior B footballer of the year – Marcas Dalton, Clara;

Senior B hurler of the year – Eimhin Kelly, Lusnagh;

Intermediate footballer of the year – Jay Sheerin, Tullamore;

Intermediate hurler of the year – Colm Gath, Drumcullen;

Junior footballer of the year – Darren Garry, Rhode;

Junior hurler of the year – Keith Lawler, Brosna Gaels;

Football referee of the year – Kevin Williamson, Tullamore;

Hurling referee of the year – Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels;

Football hall of fame – Brendan Lowry, Ferbane;

Hurling hall of fame – Paddy Kirwan, Ballyskenach and Birr.

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Camogie: (Chosen by Offaly Camogie Association)

Senior: Sarah Harding (Birr)

Intermediate: Kayla Lawlor (St. Sinchills)

Junior: Katie Fogarty (Tullamore)