GAA Site
TENNENT'S/UGAAWA
MONTHLY MERIT AWARD
November 2006
Sean McMahon , UGAAWA Chairman, left, and
John Mark, Pro*Star Sports, right, congratulate Conleth Gilligan, who was
been presented with the Tennent's / UGAAWA
Merit Award for November 2006 by Seamus Horisk, Tennent's
Lager Regional Sales Manager, On-Trade. The Ballinderry man receieved a
Tennent's sports voucher, an engraved Belleek China vase, training gear
from Pro*Star Sports and engraved silver cuff links from Gareth Mallon Jeweller
( Omeath).
© Houston Green Photography
It has been a bitter-sweet week for Conleth Gilligan. Losing the AIB Ulster club SFC final on Sunday and now he is awarded the Tennent’s/UGAAWA Merit Award for November- hopefully some crumbs of comfort for the Ballinderry captain
Of course, Conleth would have preferred that championship medal but it wasn’t to be as the Shamrocks fell in the rain to Crossmaglen Rangers on the unusual scoreline of 0-5 to 0-3.
“We couldn’t adapt to the conditions up front – Cross handled them better,” he reflects. “
The personal award is won after two sterling performances in the provincial semi-final and replay against Errigal-Ciarán when he hit 13 points in total with one of those points of the magical variety as he lofted the ball over the bar from out on the right hand-side touchline. The two games were, of course, split by his wedding...
“It’s brilliant to win this award. I’m absolutely delighted with it and it’s just a pity it’s not a double celebration,” says Conleth who will be 27 next weekend.
“There are very few individual awards in club football and, undoubtedly, this is one of the most prestigious. It certainly gives me some comfort after losing the Ulster final last Sunday.”
Gilligan ousted Crossmaglen captain Oisin McConville, who had a couple of strong games again Clontibret, Donaghmoyne scoring machine Katrina McConnell as the Monaghan club collected the All-Ireland senior championship title and John McEntee who landed a few glorious points for Crossmaglen against Clontibret. Also getting a mention in the debate was Clontibret’s Conor McManus.
|It’s the second time that Conleth Gilligan has been awarded the monthly honour. The last time was in February 2002 as Ballinderry marched towards the AIB All-Ireland club title they won on St Patrick’s Day that year.
As usual, the winner receives a Tennent’s sports voucher, an engraved Belleek China vase, training gear from Pro*Star Sports and engraved silver cuff links from Gareth Mallon Jeweller (Omeath) Conleth will also receive two tickets plus overnight accommodation at the Ulster GAA Writers’ banquet next year.
The presentation was made to Conleth Gilligan at a reception in the Ulster Brewery on Wednesday, December 6, 2006
