Burgess/Duharra's Eimear McDonnell scoops AIB Provincial Player award
Eimear McDonnell was honoured in Croke Park for her performance with her club Burgess-Duharra.
A total of eleven camogie, football and hurling stars received accolades at the annual AIB Provincial Club Player Awards.
AIB, proud sponsor of both the GAA and Camogie Club Championships invited the players, their friends, family, GAA and Camogie representatives to celebrate their achievements at the lunch which was hosted by GAA broadcasting legend Des Cahill. Voted for by national and regional sports media, the winning players were selected based on their overall performance throughout the 2016 provincial club season.
Eimear McDonnell scooped the AIB Munster Camogie Club Player of the Year award thanks to her performances for the Tipperary side in 2016. McDonnell is a vital cog in the Burgess-Duharra machine and well deserving of the award.
Eimear commented at the AIB Provincial Club Player of the Year Awards 2016, “Winning the Tipp title and beating Borrisoleigh in a replayed final to win it was probably the highlight of the year for me. We had lost the Munster semi to Milford in extra-time last year and they went on to win the All-Ireland. That kind of drove us on so winning the Munster title was also huge for us.”
She continued, “It’s always nice to get an individual award but I feel like I’m accepting the AIB Munster Camogie Club Player of the Year award on behalf of the whole Burgess-Duharra team, all the players, mentors and committee, all the people who work for the good of the players and the club. Winning this award is like a thank you to all of them! ”
Commenting on the Camogie Club Semi Final performance against Derry’s Slaughtneil she said, “It’s disappointing to lose out in the All-Ireland semi-final but I felt Slaughtneil fully deserved it on the day. They started much better, we were chasing it from the start and I don’t think we played to our potential. The huge crowd who went to Monaghan to support us in the semi-final gave me goose pimples. That’s what club is all about and when you do well, as we did this year, you feel like you’re repaying all the good faith and time those people give you.”
Speaking at the AIB GAA Provincial Club Player Awards, Denis O’Callaghan, AIB Head of Retail Banking said “AIB are delighted to honour some of the country’s greatest club camogie, football and hurling stars at our annual club player awards. There have already been many historic moments in this year’s AIB Club Championship, and I think everyone is looking forward to all the up and coming semi-finals and of course the Finals in Croke Park in March”.
Denis continued “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the national and regional sports media for taking the time to cast their votes and for their continued support for the AIB GAA Club Championships.”
The Camogie Association President Catherine Neary added: “I am very much looking forward to the final matches in the 2016 AIB All-Ireland Club Championships when our Senior & Intermediate Finals take place in Croke Park on March 5th in what has been was another fantastic season of Club Camogie action.
Today is a great opportunity to honour some of the top performers in the AIB Club Championships and to recognise the great skill and dedication which they have shown this year. To represent your club and your parish is a huge honour for any player and l would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them all and to thank AIB for their continued support in highlighting such fabulous role models for all young Camogie players.”
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2016 AIB Provincial Club Player Award Winners
Camogie
Connacht - Orlaith McGrath, Sarsfields
Leinster - Shelly Farrell, Thomastown
Munster - Eimear McDonnell, Burgess-Duharra
Ulster - Aoife Ni Chaiside, Slaughtneil
Football
Connacht - Ian Burke, Corofin
Leinster - Diarmuid Connolly, St Vincents
Munster - Daithi Casey, Dr Crokes
Ulster - Chris McKaigue, Slaughtneil
Hurling
Leinster - Con O’ Callaghan, Cuala
Munster - Tony Kelly, Ballyea
Ulster - Cormac O’ Doherty, Slaughtneil
*No award for Connacht given automatic qualification