Lámh Dhearg - Senior Presentation

On Saturday evening the Devenish Complex hosted our annual senior awards evening where players and members were recognised for their achievements in the last twelve months.

Scor solo singer and county champion – Meave McNeill got proceedings under way with a fantastic rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann and our Scor Quiz winning team of: Ciara Larkin, Emma Fox, Conal Megraw and Aaron Ferris were invited to the stage to receive medals from out-going chairman Frank Fitzsimons.

Afterwards Fitzy gave his final speech as chairman and thanked all players and members for their contribution during the last twelve months.

Guests for the evening included County Vice-Chair Terry Reilly, Joe Edwards (Ulster Vice Chair – Ulster Hurling) and wife Carol, Anthony Carleton (Chair of Antrim LGFA) and wife Pamela and club trustee Jackie Duffy.

Before dinner was served – new chair of the club Jim Herron made his first address since taking on the role last month and said it was an honour to lead the club through times of change, with work on new changing facilities to start during 2018 and plans continuing for a much needed second pitch at the club – all in attendance watched the fantastically produced ‘Red hands pitch in appeal’.

After dinner and refreshments were served the presentation of awards got underway, starting with ladies football. Antrim LGFA Chair Anthony Carleton spoke of the need for LGFA to be invited into the GAA family rather than exist as a separate entity. The first award winner of the evening was Christine Fenton – who was voted Gaelic For Mothers and Others player of the year and the awards for senior ladies player of the year was jointly shared by Danielle Clarke and Hayley McKeever – both of whom were members of the senior county squad last season.

Joe Edwards was then called forward to present the handball and hurling awards and spoke of his delight to be invited to a club that he has a lot of admiration for. Hand Ball player of the year was won by dual player Mark Lynch, while Minor hurler of the year was scooped up by rising dual star Mark Finnegan. John Boyd was named Reserve hurler of the year – after some fantastic displays in the South Antrim hurling team and brother Domhnall Nugent was named U-21 hurler of the year. The final hurling award was senior player of the year and the deserved recipient was Sean Paul Gibson for some sterling displays throughout the last twelve months.

County Vice-Chair – Terry Reilly was invited forward to present the football awards and spoke of how pleased he was to be in attendance in the absence of Chair – Collie Donnelly who was in Galway with the senior hurling team. Minor footballer of the year was claimed by county minor Ronan Fegan – but unavailable to attend; mother Linda accepted his award. Michael ‘Mitch’ McGarry was deservedly awarded Reserve footballer of the year, while Mark Finnegan claimed dual honours and was named U-21 footballer of the year for his contribution to the U-21s run to the county final. Senior footballer of the year was a joint award and Conor Murray and Declan Lynch were voted senior players of the year – a massive accolade in the year which saw the Padraig McNamee Cup return to Hannahstown for the first time in 25-years.

In the aftermath of the individual player awards – Frank Fitzsimons, Jim Herron, Sean Maguire and Kieran Megraw were invited onto the stage to recreate the iconic photo with the Bass Ireland Club of the Year award – won in 1992 the last time the club were crowned Antrim Senior Football champions.

The last three individual awards were then presented as Scor participant and Antrim ladies minor footballer Ciara Larkin was presented with the Culture Award by Ronan McHugh, Pat McCambridge was presented with the Youth Development award by Sean Maguire and senior football manager Martin Lynch was deservedly named Clubman of the Year.

Each year the club inducts a club member into the Hall of Fame and Chair- Jim Herron announced that this year – Jackie Duffy was to be added. Duffy had earlier watched is native Moy clinch a place in the AIB All-Ireland intermediate club football final and wad delighted to take his place amongst other famous club legends in the Hall of Fame.

The final presentation of the evening was the senior football team and management receiving their championship winning medals, twenty-five years after the clubs last success. The players were called up individually and received their match worn final jerseys along with their medals and posed with the McNamee Cup. Compare for the evening – Bukey then rivaled Geoff Shreeves and interviewed members of the senior football panel including : John Fincuane, Declan Lynch, Michael Herron, Paddy Cunningham, Conor Murray and manager Martin Lynch – all of whom spoke of their delight at capturing the McNamee Cup.

That brought the presentation to an end and all in attendance were treated to fantastic entertainment by Cold Comfort. Our thanks goes the Devenish for their superb hospitality and all who helped to organise the successful event