Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Award U21 & Minor Winners
PRESS RELEASE
17 November 2011
Under 21 and Minor Winners Announced for 2011 Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards
Cork dominated the Under 21 Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards for 2011, with winners in hurling and football from the county announced today. Cork’s dual star Aidan Walsh has scooped the Under 21 Hurler of the Year while the highly talented Ciaran Sheehan was crowned Under 21 Footballer of the Year. The players will be receiving their awards at the upcoming Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards which is taking place on 3 December in the Malton Hotel, Killarney.
Meanwhile the Minor Hurler award went to Clare’s Tony Kelly and Tipperary’s TJ Ryan took the Minor Footballer award.
Speaking on the announcement of the Under 21 and Minor winners for 2011, Bord Gáis Energy Sports Sponsorship Manager Ger Cunningham said “There is some amazing talent coming through at U21 and Minor level in GAA and it is fitting that we are recognising our future GAA stars at the Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards which also honours GAA legends, past and present. I wish both the U21 and Minor winners for 2011 long and successful careers in their respective sports.”
Also speaking on the announcement of these awards Sean Walsh, Chairman of Munster GAA said ‘’The Minor and Under 21 players being honoured made significant contributions during this year’s underage championship’s which were played at a high standard”.
ENDS
CIARAN SHEEHAN (CORK)
The Éire Óg clubman is a hugely deserved winner of the Munster U21 football award. Ciaran was to the fore as Cork claimed the Munster U21 football title in memorable fashion in Páirc Uí Rinn last April as he collected his second provincial medal in this grade in three years. Sheehan, who won an All-Ireland U21 football medal in 2009 fired 0-3 in that final win over Kerry, having earlier shot 0-4 in the semi-final success against Tipperary. The Cork IT student, who was part of the Rebel’s All-Ireland senior football winning team in 2010, also won a National League medal with the Cork seniors this season when he starred in their final victory over Dublin in Croke Park. Unfortunately his campaign was cut short when he suffered a knee injury in the Munster senior final against Kerry in July but is on the road to recovery after a recent operation. We wish him well in his comeback and look forward to seeing him back in action in 2012.
AIDAN WALSH (CORK)
He may not have won a provincial medal in this grade this year but there is no doubt that Aidan Walsh is a worthy recipient of the Munster U21 hurling award. The Kanturk clubman has been better known in recent years as a footballer winning an All-Ireland U21 medal in 2009, an All-Ireland senior medal and a Young Footballer of the Year Award in 2010, and a Munster U21 football medal this year. But he demonstrated his ability as a hurler in style this summer when he struck 1-1 in Cork’s Munster semi-final victory over Tipperary. In the final Cork were narrowly defeated in a classic encounter in the Gaelic Grounds by Limerick but Aidan’s contribution will live long in the memory. He hit 0-8 from play in normal time of that match, including an outstanding long-range point in injury-time that drew the game. Recently, Aidan was part of the victorious Irish International Rules squad in Australia and also won a Cork county junior football medal with his club Kanturk.
For further information, please contact:
Ed Donnelly
Munster GAA PRO
Email: pro.munster@gaa.ie
Tel: 087 2055642
Nigel O’Mahony
OMF Publicity for Bord Gáis Energy
Email: nigel@omfpublicity.ie
Tel: 086 2497530
