GAA sports award winner for 2025 to be revealed

By Finbarr McCarthy

The 22nd 96FM/C103 GAA Sports Star awards in association with the Rochestown Park Hotel will take place this Friday night.

It was yet another memorable year with the 12 monthly winners including practitioners of hurling, football, camogie and ladies football.

The extension of the All-Ireland club championships to intermediate and junior has seen some dramatic finals involving Cork teams in Croke Park and this is reflected in 2 of our recipients.

January recipient Sean Desmond bagged the winning goal as Watergrasshill held off Galway champions Tynagh Abbey Duniry to win the intermediate title and then we finished the year with another All-Ireland winner as Kilbrittain’s Mark Hickey (0-11 in the final) was honoured for December as they captured the Munster Junior Championship.

The Fitzgibbon Cup is highly sought after and while neither Cork college was successful, Kanturk’s Brian O’Sullivan was a key player as UL won it for the 3rd time in four years and Brian was our February winner.

In March, Cork ladies footballer Katie Quirke picked up the accolade as Cork regained their place in Division 1 of the National League. The Bride Rovers star was top scorer as Cork reached the league final in impressive fashion.

April belonged to the Cork hurlers. Waiting 27 years for a league title, they beat Tipperary before a full house in the Páirc, Newtownshandrum’s Tim O’Mahoney had a wonderful campaign playing every minute in every game and clipped over two points in the decider.

Amy Lee was our May winner as Cork camogie team ended a long wait for a national league title; the Na Pairsaigh goalkeeper was outstanding as Galway were easily beaten in the final.

The Munster Hurling Championship has long been revered as the best around and this years version was no exception, with Cork denying Limerick a 7th successive title in a dramatic penalty shoot out, and a key player was Sean O’Donoghue and our June winner was also rewarded with an All-Star becoming the first player from his club Innscarra to be honoured.

Steven Sherlock’s scoring prowess was key as the ‘Barr’s won the Division 1 league title with an incredible 0-18 in the final win over Clonakilty. This was maintained as the county title was also won so picking the July winner was easy.

Newcestown have a proud record as a dual club and this was very evident as they reached the county football semi-final losing after extra-time to Nemo Rangers with David Buckley winning our August award for his contribution to that exciting run.

Premier Intermediate Hurling is hugely competitive and the 2025 version was no exception. In the end Ballinhassig triumphed with captain Ger Collins hitting 1-11 in the final win over Ballincollig winning Senior A status for the coming season and making him a worthy winner in September.

Over the years Bride Rovers have endured heartbreaking defeats but October 2025 will not be forgotten after a thrilling win over near neighbours Castlelyons in the Senior A Hurling Championship final replay which sends them to the top tier of hurling this year. Cillian Tobin was outstanding in that game including hitting a superb point on the way to victory.

Aghabullogue created their own bit of history as they completed a remarkable double with outstanding displays week after week. Matthew Bradley was a huge player in both codes and his match winning point in the hurling final is a moment he and his clubmates will cherish forever and a November to savour for all involved.

So there are our 12 winners and picking an overall winner will not be easy but in the end, they are all winners.

Two other awards will also be presented on the night; the Kieran O’Driscoll Youth Award and the Donal Lehane Distinguished Career Award on what is always a very special night when the very best of Cork GAA reflect on yet another exciting year.