bobrien

TENNENT’S/UGAAWA MERIT AWARD FOR JANUARY 2004

Records are made to be broken and history to be repeated but it is doubtful if the deeds of BERNARD O’BRIEN will be surpassed or equalled. Bernard (17) wrote his name into the history books last month by becoming the first player to win a second double-double Bank of Ireland Ulster Colleges’ Allstar award.
The Latton lad got an Allstar in hurling for the current season and then collected a football Allstar, as well, to repeat a similar performance for the 2002-2003 academic year. He is the first player to win the back-to-back double-double and surely that achievement will be difficult to match.
For that, Bernard, the Head Boy and an Upper Sixth Former at St Patrick’s College, Keady, wins our ‘Tennent’s Merit Award’ for the month of January 2004.
“This is amazing – unbelievable,” enthused Bernard when told of the honour. “To win the same award as the likes of Peter Canavan is fantastic. I can’t believe it is true.”
Bernard is the second youngest person to win our award with Monaghan lady footballer Edel Byrne, at 15, being the youngest. Bernard has been playing football from the age of five and hurling since he was seven years old. Last year, he was involved in nine different teams. To date he has collected over two dozen trophies and was named the ‘Monaghan Young Hurler of the Year for 2003.’ This year he hopes to break into the Latton senior football team after winning senior hurling honours last season.
The history-maker hopes to enter UUJ next semester to study physiotherapy – as well as furthering his football and hurling careers. But he knows that in the future he may have to make a decision between the two codes. Already he has had to put his basketball career on the back burner.
Last week, brought another major honour to Bernard as he was named in the Irish Boys’ international squad for the trip to Australia over Easter.
Bernard O’Brien gets the ‘Tennent’s Merit Award’ for January ahead of Donegal footballer Brendan Devenney who shone against Down and Cavan in the Dr McKenna Cup. A special mention also goes to the new Fergal O’Hanlon’s Club formed in Monaghan Town last month.
The presentation of sports vouchers from Tennent’s Ireland and Pro*Star Sport, a Belleek China engraved vase, cuff links from Garret Mallon of Cloicín, Omeath, and two tickets plus overnight accommodation to the Ulster GAA Writers’ banquet in Bundoran next November was made by Tennent’s Regional Sales Manager Seamus Horisk at a function in the Ulster Brewery on Wednesday, February 11.