GAA Site
TENNENT’S/UGAAWA MERIT AWARD FOR NOV. 2004
Three times we
have had sons following their fathers by winning our Monthly
Merit Award and on occasions we have had brothers collecting
the honour. Now we have a nephew of a former winner stepping into the spotlight.
After storming displays with Crossmaglen against Cavan Gaels and Mayobridge
in the AIB Ulster Club Championship, JOHNNY MURTAGH is
our winner for November.
“This is a great privilege,” enthuses Johnny, who celebrated
his 21st birthday on November 5. “It is nice to follow in the footsteps
of so many great players, who have won this award. It is also nice to make
it back-to-back awards for Crossmaglen, after Stephen Kernan being the winner
for October.”
Murtagh turned in a sparkling display against Mayobridge in the AIB Ulster
Club final, at Casement Park. A hat-trick of points between the third and
sixth minutes settled the Rangers and he hit two more before half-time to
give his team a 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead. He added another point in the
second half.
“I was getting a good supply of the ball from the likes of Anthony
Cunningham outfield and if I hadn’t done something with it the boys
would have been on my back,” he cracks.
The jinking winger also produced the goods in the provincial semi-final
at Enniskillen and carried off the AIB Man-of-the-Match trophy
after the Rangers pushed Cavan Gaels out of the competition.
As a member of the Armagh under-21 squad this year, Johnny won Ulster and
All-Ireland Championship medals and he has four Armagh SFC awards plus one
SFL honour and an Armagh MFC medal. He has now added an Ulster SFC medal
to his collection.
The
Dublin-based Grounds Work Contractor was presented with his Tennent’s
Monthly Merit Award at a reception in the Ulster Brewery on Wednesday, December
8. He received a £100 Tennent’s Sports Voucher, wet and dry
training gear from Pro*Star Sport, an engraved Belleek China vase and specially
designed cuff links by Omeath firm Cloicín.
He will also be a guest
at the Ulster GAA Writers’18th annual banquet on November 18 next
year.
