jrafferty

TENNENT'S/UGAAWA MONTHLY MERIT AWARD
November 2005

November is not usually a very busy month but 2005 proved different. Throughout the month we had a full schedule of Ulster championship football games at senior, intermediate and junior levels. We also had All-Ireland club finals in camogie so there was plenty to chew over when we got down to choosing our merit winner for the month.

Dominating the proceedings, of course, was the senior club championship in football and a serious look had to be taken at the marvellous success of Belfast St Gall’s in winning the title after defeating Carrickmore, Mayobridge and Bellaghy.

Various players like Karl Stewart and Kieran McGourty stood out from the rest but overall the majority of our members plumped for the man in charge – manager JOHN RAFFERTY whose use of his panel in injury situations played a major role in victory.

“That’s real class,” beamed the St Paul’s HS Bessbrook head of PE when told of the award. Then he added: “Winning had little to do with me as all I did was run up and down the line shouting. It was all done by the players.”

John is in his second year as manager with St Gall’s after winning two Antrim SFC medals with the club. He then returned to his home club O’Hanlon’s in Poyntzpass to win Div.4 honours in 2002 and 2003. He had, of course, a 12-year run (1987-1999) in the Armagh senior team winning an Ulster SFC medal, two McKenna Cup awards and a NFL Div.3 honour.

For the Tennent’s/UGAAWA Award he beat off all the other challengers and at a presentation in the Ulster Brewery on Wednesday, December 7 he received his award from Terry McCourt, Tennent’s Lager Accounts Manger.

John received a Tennent’s Sports Voucher, an engraved Belleek China vase, training gear from Pro*Star Sport and specially designed silver cuff links from Garret Mallon Jewellery, Omeath. He also gets a double invitation plus overnight accommodation to our 2006 banquet.