First of the 2022 winners honoured
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GAA Sports Star of the Month for January Sam Ryan of St Finbarrs receives his award from Finbarr McCarthy 96FM. Also included are, Pat Horgan, Vice Chairman Cork County Board; Kieran McGeary CE 96FM; Tom Tobin General Manager RPH; Mark Sheehan, Chairman Cork County GAA Board and Mick Comyns Selector St Finbarrs. Photo: Tony O’Connell TOCImage 2 of 2
GAA Sports Star of the Month for February Sean O’Sullivan of Ballygiblin receives his award from Finbarr McCarthy 96FM. Pictured are Jerry Walsh, Coaching Officer Cork County Board, Isabel Keane, 96FM; Tom Tobin GM RPH and Mark Sheehan Chairman Cork County Board. Photo: Tony O’Connell TOCFinbarr McCarthy
A bit later than usual but with a degree of normality, the first two winners of the 96FM/C103 GAA Sport Star awards for 2022 were honoured in the Rochestown Park Hotel last week.
The January winner was St Finbarr’s defender Sam Ryan with ace Ballygiblin forward Sean O’Sullivan picking up the February accolade.
For St Finbarr’s it was a huge turnaround from their last venture into the Munster Club Championship when they were heavily defeated by Dr Croke’s. This time round they went the distance beating Eire Og Ennis in the semi-final and then defeating Austin Stack’s in a thrilling final in Thurles.
In both games and indeed throughout the campaign, Sam Ryan’s defending was top class and he was delighted to be honoured.
“It is great to get n individual award but really I am accepting it on behalf of the team. It was a great season and while we fell short in the All-Ireland semi-final, it was not through lack of effort.”
As for the quality of defending, “it’s something we work on a lot and will continue to do so as the new season gets underway and hopefully we can be as successful in the coming seasons.”
Ballygiblin’s exciting campaign ended in a heartbreaking 1 point defeat in the All-Ireland Final but for Sean getting to Croke Park was a dream come through.
It’s “a memory we will cherish forever and while we lost narrowly it was so special to be there it united the parish and the surrounding area’s and the support we got was something else.”
Sean’s contribution was special also so much so he was christened ‘Seanie goals’ a tag he laughs at now.
“Ah look, all part of the ‘craic’ we had all season, we gathered momentum with every game and while we didn’t climb the steps for the cup, we will learn from it and put the experience to good use.”
County Board Chairman Marc Sheehan congratulated both recipients on their well deserved awards and their clubs on the outstanding season they both enjoyed and wished them well for the coming season, while also commending 96FM/C103 and the Rochestown Park Hotel for their continued support of these awards and Cork GAA in general.
Tom Tobin of Rochestown Park Hotel and Kieran McGeary of 96FM echoed these sentiments.
The presentation lunch was attended also by Pat Horgan and Jerry Walsh Cork County Board, Isabel Keane 96FM/C013, family, playing colleagues of Sam and Sean along with official from both clubs.
The 2021 gala banquet will take place on Friday 22 April with the two lads becoming the first winners for 2022, it will be January 2023 where their achievements will be acknowledged as these prestigious awards now begin their 18th year.