GAA Site
TENNENTS/UGAAWA MERIT AWARD FOR MAY 2003
May is
known as 'The Mad Month' and so it was this year with so much high-powered
action in GAA circles. There were championship matches in football and hurling
and championship football replays. Because of that the choice for our Tennents
Monthly Merit Award was wide and varied. Claims could be made for many players
with Sean Marty Lockhart giving excellent displays with Derry, Sean
Cavanagh ruling midfield roost for Tyrone at Casement Park, Graham Clarke
turning in an absolute blinder with Down in the USHC semi-final, Colm Coyle
piloting Monaghan to victory over Ulster and All-Ireland champions Armagh,
Darren O'Hare's two-goal bullet for Antrim, Damian McDermott's scoring blitz
with Tyrone minor footballers and Michael Lyng's performance with Cavan
minors - just some of the highlights of last month. It was a tough and argumentative
choice to come up with a winner but it had to be done and the winner is
Sean Marty Lockhart who was outstanding in the two games against Tyrone
in the Bank of Ireland USFC.
Any player who can hold wizard Peter Canavan, acknowledged as the best forward
in Ireland just now, scoreless from play in two consecutive games surely
merits recognition. There was no argument in the end as to our May Merit
winner with the solid Derry defender getting the nod, deservedly so. "I'm
delighted to be honoured with this award," enthused the St Patrick's (Maghera)
PE teacher. Sean Marty has been a magnificent defender with Derry for quite
a number of years now and no greater tribute can be paid to him than to
put his name alongside that of Tony Scullion.
Lockhart has won many honours with his county and has represented Ulster
and Ireland. Many more honours are sure to come his way. As his Tennents
Merit Award, he receives a sports voucher from Tennents Ireland, training
gear from Pro*Star Sport, an engraved Belleek China vase and two tickets
to the UGAAWA annual banquet in Bundoran on November 14 next.
The presentation was made to Sean Marty Lockhart at a reception in the Ulster
Brewery on Wednesday, June 4.
