Cillian wins October accolade
“Thrilled to be back up in the top tier of Cork hurling and looking forward to next season and delighted to get this award.”
Those were the words of Cillian Tobin of Bride Rovers who is the October winner of the 96FM/C103 GAA Sports Star award in association with the Rochestown Park Hotel.
Cillian was honoured for his outstanding contribution to Bride Rovers success in winning the Senior A Hurling Championship after beating their near neighbours Castlelyons in a replay.
Reflecting on the championship overall Cillian said: “We were in a very tough group and after winning two games, we got a trimming from Watergrasshill and that really focussed us for the remaining games.”
Some familiar opposition awaited in Blarney. “Yes, we have met a few times over the years and we obviously had a score to settle but our job was to win the match and we did and that was the important thing.”
Injuries have seen Cillian miss important games over the years but thankfully no such problems this season: “No and that was a relief as there is nothing worse than not being able to play big games and hopefully that’s the way it will stay going forward.”
Both the drawn match and the replay generated huge interest given their closeness to Castlelyons and in the second game Bride Rovers were clearly the better team even though it was still close, and Cillian chipped in with a smashing long range point.
As for being honoured with this award, Cillian said: “I’m delighted would like to thank everyone in the club and my family for their ongoing support and hopefully we can continue this run in next year’s championship and my thanks also to 96FM and the Rochestown Park Hotel for this.”
County Board Chairman Pat Horgan congratulated Cillian: “It is a well-deserved honour and your display in the final was excellent your club are in very good position and I wish you well in the Premier Senior next season, our thanks also to 96FM/C013 and the Rochestown Park Hotel for their ongoing support for Cork GAA and the promotion of these very prestigious awards.”
Tom Tobin Rochestown Park Hotel and Isabel Keane also congratulated Killian and wished him and Bride Rovers continued success.
Family members along with manager Steven Glasgow and club officers, including Ger Lane and John Arnold, were in attendance to acknowledge a worthy recipient.
This is the second time this year a Bride Rovers player was honoured with ladies football star Katie Quirke picking up the award in March for her part in Cork gaining promotion to D1 of the National League.
Previous winners from the club are Brian Murphy and the Roche twins Brain and Eoin.
Cillian now joins the other monthly winners as the overall winner will be announced at the gala banquet on 30 January.