Munster GAA Awards – Senior Winners & Manager of the Year

PRESS RELEASE

29 November 2011

Senior Winners and Manager of the Year Announced for 2011 Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards

Tipperary hurler, Lar Corbett, Kerry’s Declan O’Sullivan and Tipperary Minor Football manager David Power were today named the top winners of the Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards 2011. The awards will be presented on Saturday night at a gala dinner in the Malton Hotel in Killarney where over 30 players, officials and legends will receive accolades.

Tipp hurler Lar Corbett was outstanding for this year’s Munster Champions, winning his fourth Munster title. He’s been a constant fixture for his county for the last ten years, during which he has amassed four Munster titles, two All Ireland titles, two NHL titles and three All Star Awards.

Kerry’s Declan O’Sullivan was announced as Senior Footballer of the Year and he will also be presented his award in Killarney on Saturday night. The footballer has brought his county four All Ireland titles, three Munster titles and three NFL titles since he was first called up to the Kerry team in 2003.

Meanwhile David Power was named Manager of the Year for his leadership of the Tipperary Minor Football team, a role the young Tipp man took up nearly three years ago. Power’s management style is based on building huge passion and commitment amongst his players and his achievement in leading the Tipperary minors to their first All Ireland success in 77 years makes him a deserving winner of the 2011 Munster GAA Manager Award.

Speaking on the announcement of these winners, Bord Gáis Energy Sports Sponsorship Manager Ger Cunningham said “I am delighted that the hard work and achievements of both Lar Corbett and Declan O’Sullivan will be recognised at the awards this weekend. Both players have been outstanding for their respective counties over the last few years. And I would also like to congratulate David Power on his well deserved award for his exceptional achievements and work as manager to the Tipperary Minor Football team”.

Also speaking on the announcement of these awards Sean Walsh, Chairman of Munster GAA said “Lar Corbett and Declan O’Sullivan are among the best forwards of their generation and contributed hugely to their teams march through Munster and to the All-Ireland Finals. The Tipperary Minor Footballers success against all the odds was one of the memorable stories of the year and the influence of David Power over the past number of years helped to mould a group of young players in to outstanding champions.”

Also announced today, was the Intermediate Hurling Award which went to Clare’s Patrick Kelly.

Additional Information

Senior Footballer of the Year – Declan O Sullivan (Kerry)

Declan O’Sullivan has been a major contributor to the Kerry football success story in the past ten years. He is a natural leader and leads by example on the field of play whether it is for his Club, District or County. From 2004, Declan O’Sullivan has played in 7 All-Ireland finals, winning four and has the distinction of being captain in 2006 and 2007 when Kerry won All Irelands. His top class contribution to Kerry teams has been acknowledged in winning three All Stars in his career so far.

Declan is a proud club man and is currently a member of the Piarsaigh Na Dromada team that won the Munster Junior Club Final on Sunday last. Since 2004 he has won four County Championship medals with South Kerry.

Declan is also the winner of a Munster minor football championship and a Munster Under-21 football championship as well as having Munster and All-Ireland Vocational Schools championship medals. Declan is the fourth person after Dick Fitzgerald John Joe Sheehy and Joe Barrett to twice captain Kerry to All-Ireland glory. He is also only one of eight people to lift the Sam Maguire Cup twice.

Senior Hurler of the Year – Lar Corbett (Tipperary)

2010 Hurler of the Year and 3 time All Star award winner, Lar was born on March 16th 1981 and plays for the Thurles Sarsfields club. Famed for his lightning turn of pace, he has become one of the modern games greatest scoring machines with a particular ability to score goals at crucial times in games.

Lar joined the Tipperary Senior Hurling panel at the age of 19 and made his Senior inter-county debut vs. Clare in the 2000 South East Hurling League playing at corner-forward. Lar has won 2 Allianz Hurling League medals, 4 Munster senior hurling championship medals and 2 All Ireland senior hurling championship medals. He scored 6-11 in the 2010 All Ireland senior hurling championship including 3 goals in his All Ireland final man of the match performance. He followed that with an equally impressive 7-9 in this year’s championship. He had a very impressive Munster championship campaign this year. He scored 1-2 against Cork in the quarter-final and scored a goal against Clare in the semi-final. However he held his best until the final when in a memorable man of the match performance he scored 4-4 from play.

Well known for his skilful media performances, Lar wears his success lightly and is hugely popular among Tipperary supporters and hurling followers in general. He represented the GAA during the visits of both Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama to Ireland in 2011. For his excellent play in this year’s Munster championship, capped by a stunning performance in the final, Lar Corbett is a worthy recipient of the senior hurling award for 2011.

Manager of the Year – David Power (Tipperary)

David Power from the Kilsheelan Kilcash club in South Tipperary will be remembered forever in Tipperary as the man who managed the 2011 minor football team to All Ireland victory. David has been involved with underage squads in Tipperary for the last 5 years, taking over as Minor manager in 2009. He trained Kilsheelan Kilcash to South Divisional and County Minor B Football titles in 2010. He played county minor football with Tipperary in 2001. He has managed the Tipperary under 16 and 17 teams and was in charge of the under 17 team which won the Munster under 17 competition in both 2010 and 2011. He has coached the WIT team to the Trench Cup final weekends in 2010 and 2011. His father, Michael Power, is Secretary of the Tipperary Football Board and is a former Treasurer of Munster Council GAA.

David’s management style is based on building huge passion and commitment among his players. He is respected, admired and loved by his players and their loyalty to each other is evident at all times. His passion on the sideline is a joy to behold and his effective working relationships with his backroom team and county officials are another key to his success. His achievement in leading the Tipperary minors to their first All-Ireland success in 77 years makes him a deserving winner of the 2011 Munster GAA Manager award.