Connacht players honoured at Rugby Awards Dinner
Connacht celebrated the past year of rugby at the annual Awards Dinner in the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway on Saturday night.
Nearly 300 people attended the event which saw awards presented to players, coaches, referees and volunteers across a range of categories.
The cream of Connacht’s underage talent kicked off the ceremony followed by awards for junior and senior clubs and the women’s game.
For shots of the night CLICK HERE
The final award of the night was kept for the Players’ Player of the Year. This was the first year the senior squad were asked all to vote for their player of the year. Recognised by his fellow peers and colleagues, scrum half Kieran Marmion received the highest accolade.
21-year-old Marmion has been involved in every single Connacht game, starting in all but two, since his debut last season. In addition, the young back holds the record of top try scorer of this season, getting over for that crucial score against Toulouse in France.
Marmion was also presented with the Back of the Year award while club captain John Muldoon scooped the Forward of the Year honour.
Connacht stalwart Ronan Loughney was recognised as the Connacht Rugby Team Man of the Year. Throughout the year, the Irish-capped prop has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the game both on and off field. He continues to match his playing and training with team support, work, charity, as well as community involvement.
21-year-old local talent Jack Carty was named the Academy Player of the Year after a stand out season for the outhalf. The Athlone youngster has graduated from the Connacht Academy to a professional contract next season. After captaining the Connacht Eagles in the British & Irish Cup, he went on to earn a handful of senior caps under Pat Lam. Carty earned his first start against Leinster in early January. A week later, he played his first Heineken Cup game against Italian side Zebre.
Dr. John O’Driscoll was inducted into the Connacht Rugby Hall of Fame for his extraordinary contribution to rugby within Connacht and Ireland and with the British & Irish Lions. John played for Connacht in the 1970’s and toured South Africa (1980) and New Zealand (1983) with the British and Irish Lions, playing in six of the eight tests on those tours.
O’Driscoll, uncle of Brian, was first capped at senior level against Scotland at Lansdowne Road in 1978, his 26-cap international career finished against the same opposition at the same venue eight years later. In 1982, he helped steer Ireland to a first Triple Crown success in over 13 years. Playing alongside Fergus Slattery and Willie Duggan, he formed the most effective backrow unit in the history of Irish rugby.
He has remained actively involved with the IRFU to this day and represents the interests of the Exiles based in the UK looking to make their way on to the representative scene in Ireland.
Full list of winners from the 2013/14 Connacht Awards Ceremony:
CONNACHT U18 SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Conan O’Donnell, Summerhill College, Sligo
CONNACHT U18 CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Cosgrove, Sligo RFC
CONNACHT U19 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory Moloney
CONNACHT U20 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sean O’Brien
CONNACHT SENIOR WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Claire Raftery
CONNACHT WOMEN’S CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ruth O’Reilly, Galwegians RFC
CONNACHT CLUB OF THE YEAR
Galwegians RFC
CONNACHT COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Davies, St Geralds College, Castlebar
CONNACHT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Geraldine McNally, Loughrea RFC
CONNACHT REFEREE OF THE YEAR
Daniel Collins
CONNACHT JUNIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Hayes, Ballinasloe RFC
CONNACHT SENIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR s
Mark Dolan, Buccaneers RFC
CONNACHT RUGBY ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jack Carty
CONNACHT RUGBY FORWARD OF THE YEAR
John Muldoon
CONNACHT RUGBY BACK OF THE YEAR
Kieran Marmion
CONNACHT RUGBY TEAM MAN OF THE YEAR
Ronan Loughney
CONNACHT RUGBY PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kieran Marmion
CONNACHT RUGBY HALL OF FAME
Dr. John O’Driscoll