Player of the Year awards announced

[Lone Shark]

The award winners were selected by members of the local press, as follows:Kevin Corrigan (Tullamore Tribune), John O’Callaghan (Midland Tribune),Alan Walsh (Offaly Express), Damian Moran (Offaly Express), Ruth O’Brien(Offaly Independent) and Mary Dunne (Offaly Topic).

Hurling
Senior: Niall Claffey (Birr)
Intermediate: Brian Watkins (Birr)
Junior: Des Egan (Brosna Gaels)
Under 21: Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
Minor: Stephen Wynne (St Rynagh's)
Referee: Tony Carroll (Kinnitty)
Hall of Fame: Diarmuid Healy

Football
Senior: Cathal Daly (Tullamore)
Intermediate: Johnny Hurst (Edenderry)
Junior: Willie Reynolds (Clara)
Under 21: Niall Darby (St Michael's)
Minor: Sean Pender (Edenderry)
Referee: Damien Brazil (Shannonbridge)
Hall of Fame: Richie Connor (on behalf of the 1982 team)

Handball: David Hope (Rhode)

[Offalys Future]

What sense does it make giving a player of the year award to Brian Watkins when he shouldnt have been let play in that grade in the first place.
He was a county u-21 hurler last year and this reward should have been given to an intermediate hurler that merits it.

[True Red]

A preposterous statement.The chap was obviously the best player in the Intermediate Hurling championship this year.Your bitterness is astonishing.

[Offalys Future]

Shouldnt have been playing intermediate in the first place.
After last year it was obvious to see if you were at any of the u-21 games or club games that he is not an intermediate hurler.
He is a senior hurler and this award shouldnt be an achievement for him.

[beirut]

He was overall the best player in the Intermediate Championship therefore he deserves to get it, it's not his fault Pat Joe wouldn't pick him for Senior earlier!!

[Efan]

Should the category be renamed “Best Intermediate hurler with the exception of the players that were actually the best and managed to make their club senior team subsequently” or maybe “Best Intermediate hurler with the exception of anybody who played well for the U21 county team in the course of the season” ?????/

Well done to all concerned especially David Hope from Rhode.

[Lone Shark]

Fair play Daithi indeed. We ain't exactly a handball stronghold, but I've been keeping a bit more of an eye on it this year through work, and he's certainly as prominent as we've had for a while. Still a long way to go before he's taking on Eoin Kennedy or Paul Brady, but it's good to see him flying the flag.

How are we fixed for handball alleys in Offaly anyway? I really only knew of Crinkle myself....