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TENNENT'S/UGAAWA MONTHLY MERIT AWARD
- March 2005

IT’S nice to make history and that’s what STEPHEN O’NEILL does today. He collects the Tennent’s/Ulster GAA Writers’ Merit Award for the second time in three months – the first person to achieve that honour.

Stephen has been in tremendous form since the turn of the year, turning in top class shows with Tyrone as the Red Hands stormed past Offaly and Cork last month. Proving the point is that he is today collecting his second major award within 24 hours having yesterday received the Vodaphone Player of the Month honour in Dublin.

His collection of honours include two each of Ulster SFC, Ulster Under-21 FC, Ulster MFC medals, Intermediate Championship and League medals plus Junior Championship and League medals with his Donemana club. He sure does like doing things on the double.

Then, of course, Stephen has tucked away an All-Ireland SFC Celtic Cross, a NFL medal and an Allstar Award. He has also an Ulster Colleges Allstar won with Omagh CBS. Not bad for a mere 24-year-old.

“I’m absolutely delighted with this second Tennent’s Monthly Merit Award. Winning it once was superb but to win it again two months later is unbelievable,” he enthuses.

Stephen, of course, has shown that he can turn his football talents to ‘foreign fields’, being a noted player with Ballymena United in the Irish League during he past. That part of his career is on hold just now.

Once again, Stephen receives a Sports Voucher from Bass Ireland, an engraved Belleek China vase, training gear from Pro*Star Sport, specially designed cuff links from Cloicín and he’ll be a guest at the Ulster GAA Writers’ banquet in Bundoran on November 18.

This time he gets the Tennent’s Monthly Merit Award ahead of Derry hotshot Paddy Bradley and Down utility man Dan Gordon. Others receiving special mention were Monaghan lady footballer Aisling Tierney from Clones .who hit home 4-3 in the Div.1 NFL semi-final, and Fermanagh footballer Kieran Donnelly who coached Omagh CBS to win the Dr MacRory Cup.

Stephen O’Neill was presented with his award at a function in the Ulster Brewery on Tuesday, April 12.