gbegley

TENNENT'S/UGAAWA MONTHLY MERIT AWARD
August 2007

The presentation was made by Connor Magill, InBev's Commercial Manager Ireland, at a reception held at the Ulster Brewery.
© Houston Green Photography

IT’S Ladies First this time with Tyrone sharpshooter GEMMA BEGLEY the ‘Flavour of the Month’ as she has been selected the winner of our Tennent’s/UGAAWA Merit Award for August.

Gemma (22) from Carrickmore was in sparkling scoring form during last month. In the TG4 All-Ireland SFC she hit 1-3 against Sligo and then netted a cool 3-6 in the quarter-finals against neighbours and Ulster champions Armagh, last year’s All-Ireland runners-up.

“It’s really good news that I have been selected as the winner of the Merit Award for August,” she enthused. “It is always nice to get recognition but, of course, a player can’t win anything on their own and I have to thank my colleagues in the Tyrone team for helping me to get this award.”

Tyrone’s defeat last weekend is the end of the line at club and county this year for Gemma. “Yes, we (Carrickmore) are out of the county championship and with Tyrone out, too, that’s the end of championship action for me,” she reflected.

However, there is university action to come as our winner goes back to Queen’s for her third year studies for a Business IT degree. And after winning the O’Dowd Cup earlier in 2007 there is the defence of that Blue Ribbon trophy to look forward to.

She laid that medal alongside her seven Tyrone SFC medals plus four senior league trophies and, of course, today’s award will be proudly displayed, as well. Gemma is the second Carrickmore girl to receive the Monthly Merit Award – Elish Gormley was the winner for October 1999.

“Elish has that trophy proudly on display in her home and I always admired it. Now I have my own,” says Gemma who got the nod ahead of Monaghan’s John Paul Mone and Thomas Freeman plus Derry’s Fergal Doherty and Paddy Bradley.

At a reception in the Ulster Brewery, on Wednesday, September 5, Gemma was presented with her award of a Tennent’s Ireland voucher, an inscribed Belleek China vase, a medallion from Omeath jeweller Garrett Mallon and training gear from Pro*Star Sport. She will also receive two tickets plus overnight accommodation at the Ulster GAA Writers’ banquet in the Great Northern Hotel on Saturday, November 24.