Corofin’s
historic three in a row success has resulted in them sweeping up seven places
on the AIB GAA Club Players’ Awards football team.
With a presence on every
line of the field, the Galway and Connacht kingpins have now won 20 of these
awards since it was first staged in 2018 and defender Liam Silke and
sharp-shooter Martin Farragher
have been honoured
in each of the three years.
It is that sort of
consistency which enabled Corofin
to see off Kilcoo in an extra time thriller last January and become the first
team ever to win a hat-trick of AIB GAA senior club football championship
crowns. As a result, they dominate a selection that draws on players from five
clubs from across the provinces after a hugely entertaining campaign.
Goalkeeper Bernard Power,
full-back Kieran Fitzgerald, the midfield partnership of Daithí
Burke and Ronan Steede
and wing forward Gary Sice complete the Corofin
contingent.
Elsewhere, Ulster
champions and beaten All-Ireland finalists Kilcoo have had their great run recognised
with awards for defenders Aaron Branagan and Darryl Branagan and forwards Paul
Devlin and Conor Laverty.
There are awards for
Robbie McDaid and ColmBasquel
on the back of their work with Leinster champions Ballyboden St Enda’s, while
there is also a prestigious award for Nemo Rangers defender Kevin O’Donovan and
alsoSeán Gannon who starred for
Éire Óg in their run to the
Leinster final.
The awards will be
presented at a special banquet at Croke Park this Friday night.
In addition to the
football and hurling teams being honoured,
there will also be awards announced live on the night for the overall AIB GAA
Club Footballer and Hurler of the Year.
The nominees for the
footballer of the year are Kilcoo’s
Darryl Branagan and Corofin
duo Liam Silke and Ronan Steede.
Congratulating the
winners, Uachtarán
CLG John Horan said: “The ability of the AIB
GAA Club Championship to throw up memorable moments is a great constant in our
calendar.
“Corofin
carved out a special piece of history earlier this year and it was a success
built on hard graft as well as class as they were pushed all the way in
Connacht and on the All-Ireland stage.
“I want to congratulate
all of the players who have been honoured
with a place on this team. The club championship is the competitive lifeblood
of the GAA and these awards recognise
individuals who were exceptionally prominent in the provincial and All-Ireland
senior campaign. I want to also extend our thanks to Denis O’Callaghan and our
long-standing supporters in AIB for their commitment to this competition which
continues to go from strength to strength.”
Denis
O’Callaghan, Head of Customer Management, AIB, said: “AIB is proud to celebrate its 29th year sponsoring the Club
Championships, and to partner with the GAA for the third time for the AIB GAA
Club Players Awards. The awards recognise the incredible feats achieved by club players across Ireland who
reached the AIB GAA Club Championships.”
“Today, we
are proud to announce the AIB GAA Club Football Team of the Year. The skill and
talent displayed by these players puts their communities on the national stage.
To be named on the Club Football Team of the Year is a real honour, and an immense source
of pride for their families, communities and clubs.”
“On behalf of
AIB I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate each of the winners
and to thank the national and regional sports media for taking the time to cast
their votes and for their continued support for the AIB GAA Club
Championships"
The AIB GAA Club Players’
Awards are selected by a panel of GAA media from across print, radio, tv and
digital, and is chaired by Uachtarán
CLG.
The hurling team will be announced tomorrow morning.
AIB GAA CLUB PLAYERS’
AWARDS – FOOTBALL 2020
- Bernard Power (Corofin)
* Previous winner in 2019 - Aaron Branagan (Kilcoo)
- Kieran Fitzgerald (Corofin)
*Previous winner in 2018 - Liam Silke (Corofin)
*Previous winner in 2018 & 2019 - Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
- Robbie McDaid (Ballyboden St. Endas)
- Darryl Branagan (Kilcoo)
- Daithí
Burke (Corofin)
*Previous winner in 2019 - Ronan Steede
(Corofin) - Gary Sice (Corofin)
*Previous winner in 2019 - Paul Devlin (Kilcoo)
- Seán
Gannon (Éire Óg) - ColmBasquel
(Ballyboden St. Endas) - Martin Farragher
(Corofin) *Previous winner in
2018 & 2019 - Conor Laverty (Kilcoo)
AIB GAA CLUB FOOTBALLER
OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Darryl Branagan (Kilcoo),
Liam Silke (Corofin),
Ronan Steede
(Corofin)
