August accolade for Cork hurler Padraig Power

Finbarr McCarthy

Cork’s achievement of winning two Under 20 All-Ireland Hurling titles in the space of six weeks was acknowledged last week when the outstanding Padraig Power was presented with the 96FM/C103 GAA Sports Star of the month award for August in association with the Rochestown Park Hotel.

Padraig played a key role in both campaigns contributing some quality and important scores and was thrilled with how the season evolved. “It was a fantastic championship and even though we had a long wait for the first final, we worked hard in the lockdown and thankfully it all came good.”

The Blarney player was fulsome in his praise for the management and his team mates. Coach “Pat (Ryan) was brilliant and the way he handled everything made our job easy and the lads responded in style and the quality of hurling we played brought its rewards.”

Padraig is now concentrating on the club championship: “it is great that we were straight back in action and now with supporters back at matches, there is a feel good factor around and we are all looking forward to the coming weeks.”

County Board Chairman Marc Sheehan was delighted to attend his first awards lunch. “It has been an exciting and successful few months for Cork teams and it is great that Padraig is been honoured here today and is deserving of our congratulations for an outstanding campaign.”

Marc was also fulsome in his praise for Pat Ryan who was also in attendance. “Pat did a wonderful job and we were so lucky to have his expertise and we thank him for his contribution and hopefully he will have more to offer in the coming years.”

The Chairman thanked both 96FM/C103 and the Rochestown Park Hotel “for continuing to promote and organise these much sought after and highly prestigious awards which have become an important part of the Cork GAA scene and also for their ongoing support of the board in general”.

Tom Tobin of Rochestown Park Hotel and Kieran McGeary of 96FM both expressed delight that these highly prestigious awards are back up and running again and congratulated Padraig on his outstanding contribution to Cork’s success.

Padraig, who was accompanied by his family at the lunch, now joins the previous recipients as monthly winners including Tadgh Deasy (St Michaels), Tracey Kennedy (Cork) Shane Barrett (Blarney), Blackrock’s Alan Connolly, Cork Camogie and Ladies Football star Hannah Looney and Eire Og’s John Cooper, dual under 20 hurlers and footballers Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s) and Jack Cahalane (St Finbarrs and Castlehaven), on the list for the overall award.

The winners will be announced at the end of year gala banquet, a date for which will be announced shortly.