Steven wins overall award
The 22nd 96FM/C103 GAA Sports Star Gala Banquet in association with the Rochestown Park Hotel took place last Friday night, and Steven Sherlock was named as the overall winner.
The St Finbarr’s star was a key player as they completed a league and championship double. In the league final Steven bagged 0-18, while a tally of 6-41 throughout the championship tells its own story for the ace forward.
Steven was delighted to be honoured: “Absolutely thrilled - it was a very special year for the club beating our great rivals Nemo Rangers in the final for the very first time and while the Munster Final did not go our way, we still had a very good year.”
On his return to the Cork team, “yeah even though I didn’t tell you (laughs), I am delighted to be back, just took a year out and now looking forward to the season ahead.”
He had a good start with the win over Cavan, in which he bagged the wining two pointer. “It was and important we are keen to get out of D2 and you really need to win your home games and now we can build on that.”
Well they did with a good win over Louth with Steven hitting 0-8.
The new rules are also making “definitely” football more attractive: “It was at times a hard watch but now a lot more people are going to games and enjoy watching it and from a players’ perspective it’s great to play and games are far more exciting with the 2 pointers a big help.” Two other awards were presented on the night Cork minor hurler Craig O’Sullivan who was the recipient of the Kieran O’Driscoll Helping Hand Award.
The Na Piarsaigh player was instrumental as Gaelcholáiste Mhuire North Mon won back to back O’Callaghan Cup Finals, beating CBC in both, ending a long wait for success for the northside institution.
“There was a great bond in the team and when it got close in the Munster Final, we managed to pull it off and it was a brilliant win.”
Their win was very special. “Two very big wins and I can recall the excitement and emotion of the first day in Páirc Uí Rinn, with Sean Óg (Ó hAilpín) leading the sing song and to retain it was very sweet.”
The Donal Lehane Distinguished Career Award recipient was former Cork hurling star Milford’s Sean O’Gorman. In a great career, Sean won Munster and All-Ireland medals and was twice an All-Star.
“Fabulous memories especially been part of the double in 1990, with the Canon and sadly the late Teddy Mac.”
“Not given a chance after a poor year in 1998 but a few players came back and we were underdogs in most matches even against Kerry,” he joked, “but the Munster Final win over Tipp and Bab’s (Keating’s) comments about donkeys and derbies drove us on.”
Sean was delighted to be honoured. “Thrilled really and I look at some of the previous winners I feel kind of humble but privileged at being chosen.”
The guest of honour on the night was An Taoiseach Micheál Martin. He spoke of the importance of the CLCG in our county as it reaches into every household and is a vital part of all our lives. He also paid tribute to camogie and ladies football for their role in promoting and fostering their games and looked forward to their integration.
Micheál concluded on a poignant note as he remembered the late Sean Ó Sé who passed away recently. County Board Chairman Pat Horgan in his address was fulsome in his praise for 96FM/C103 and the Rochetsown Park Hotel for their continued promotion of these very prestigious awards.
Pat also said that the coverage 96FM/C013 give our games is unmatched anywhere. The awards would not be possible without the support of so many: Kieran McGeary, Isabel Keane, Ken Perrott and Barry O’Mahoney of 96FM and the staff of Rochestown Park Hotel particularly Tom Tobin, Colm Bulger Steve Cox, Shiby Karan and of course the Lehane family for whom John and Niamh were in attendance on the night.
So year 22 is at an end and very soon the first winner for 2026 will be announced the 23rd year of the awards gets underway.