bodonnell

TENNENT'S/UGAAWA MONTHLY MERIT AWARD
September 2006

The Tennent's / UGAAWA Merit Award for September 2006 being presented by Tony Hawkins, 2nd from left, at a reception held at the Ulster Brewery. Also pictured are John Mark, Pro*Star Sports and Sean McMahon, Chairman UGAAWA.
© Houston Green Photography

Today, we turn the clock back six years and 11 months as we honour BRONAGH O’DONNELL for her outstanding displays during the month of September 2006. Yes, that’s how long it is since we gave our Tennent’s Monthly Merit Award to a lady footballer – Elish Gormley (Tyrone) being the last winner for October 1999.

This presentation will, we hope, ease in some way for Armagh captain and centre-back Bronagh, our Lady Football of the Year 2005, the pain of so narrowly losing last Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final to Cork.

During September Bronagh helped her club Crossmaglen to victory in the Armagh final and she was also outstanding in Armagh’s exciting All-Ireland semi-final win over favourites Galway. Her and her team mates also stood up well to the controversy that followed that game.

“I’m delighted with this award. It’s a great honour for me and for ladies’ football in general,” said Bronagh (25), an audiologist in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Next on the list for Bronagh and her Cross team mates is an Ulster Club Championship game against Moneyglass next Sunday so she hasn’t much time to dwell on the Croke Park disappointment of last weekend.

Bronagh has also traded her talents in camogie and basketball but with ladies’ football now the major sport that it has become the other activities have had to be put on the back burner.

For the September award, our winner overcame a challenge from Paul Braniff, who had an outstanding game with Portaferry in the Down SHC final. Brian Crowe’s handling of the All-Ireland SFC final between Kerry and Mayo and Crossmaglen’s 11th Armagh title in a row were also noted but Bronagh O’Donnell is a clear winner.

Tony Hawkins, Tennent's Ireland, made the presentation in the Ulster Brewery on Wednesday, October 4. Bronagh receives a Tennent’s Sports Voucher, an engraved Belleek China vase, training gear from Pro*Star Sport and jewellery from Gareth Mallon Omeath.