John Kerins from St Finbarr’s receiving his 96FM/C103 Sports Star Award with Pat Horgan Vice-Chairman, Cork County Board, Tom Tobin, Rochestown Park Hotel, Finbarr Mc Carthy, and Kieran Mc Geary 96FM/C103.

Final two recipients are honoured

Finbarr Mc Carthy

It has taken a little bit longer, owing to restrictions, but the last two winners of the 96FM/C103 GAA Sport Star of the Month awards for 2021 in association with the Rochestown Park Hotel were finally presented last week.

The well deserved recipients were Ross O’Regan for his outstanding contribution to Midleton’s win in the County Senior Hurling Final, while also honoured was St Finbarr’s goalkeeper John Kerins who was a key player as the ‘Blue’s took the Andy Scannell Cup back to Togher.

Both players were delighted to be honoured.

Ross who scored 0-4 in the win over Glen Rovers said: “It was a brilliant Championship and we are thrilled to win it and while I am thrilled to be honoured I would not be here only for the work put in by the players and management.”

Ross also paid tribute to coach Ben O’Connor: “Oh Ben was brilliant. To have a guy like that coaching and guiding you was extra special and I learned an awful lot from him.”

For John it was a rollercoaster of a campaign and he was the hero of the penalty shootout in the semi-final win over Castlehaven scoring one and then saving one to send the ‘Barr’s into the final.

He said: “It was dramatic alright and it made up for last year when we lost after penalties. But look we got there and it was great to win the county again.”

In the final it was another tense encounter with Clonakilty and John showed his class with two top class saves.

“A really tough game as we thought it would as Clon are a tough team and we were glad to get over the line,” he said.

County Board Chairman Marc Sheehan congratulated both winners: “It is a great achievement for Ross and John as they were excellent in their clubs very special day and in congratulating you both I wish you and your clubs continued success in the coming season.”

Marc also paid tribute to the sponsors 96FM/C103 who he said gave the games outstanding coverage while also adding that Rochestown Park Hotel were wonderfully supportive.

Tom Tobin from the Rochestown Park Hotel and Kieran Mc Geary from 96FM/C103 congratulated Ross and John and also expressed delight that the awards were back in their rightful format.