Galway's Orlaith McGrath (pictured left) and Ian Burke were yesterday honoured in Croke Park for their performances for their clubs. A total of eleven camogie, football and hurling stars received accolades at the annual AIB Provincial Club Player Awards. AIB, proud sponsor of both the GAA and Camogie Club Championships invited the players, their friends, family, GAA and Camogie representatives to celebrate their achievements at the lunch which was hosted by GAA broadcasting legend Des Cahill. Voted for by national and regional sports media, the winning players were selected based on their overall performance throughout the 2016 provincial club season.
Sarsfield's Orlaith McGrath was the first star to receive an award at the ceremony. McGrath took away the AIB Connacht Camogie Club award having been a leading light all season for Sarsfields along with her sisters Niamh and Clodagh.
Sarsfield's Orlaith McGrath commented at the AIB Provincial Club Player Awards, "Winning the county final is probably our best sporting achievement to date because it was our first time ever and it's so hard to win the Galway title. We'd lost a final four years ago with a very inexperienced team and this year we met Mullagh in it and had to go to a replay so winning that was very special. "You have to pinch yourself when you realise you've reached an All-Ireland final. Last year on the day of the AIB All-Ireland club finals we came to Dublin and played a challenge match and then went to Croke Park to watch them. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd be playing in one a year on! "We've nothing to lose now. Slaughtneil are obviously a serious outfit but there's no reason we can't push on and win it. All season we've been surprising ourselves, in the county final and in the All-Ireland semi-final. There's no point in winning those if we can't go on and win it."
Commenting on winning the award, Orlaith said, "Winning this award completely took me by surprise but it was a really nice one. It's lovely that these awards recognise club players and I'm really honoured to get one."
In football, Corofin's Ian Burke was named AIB Connacht Club Footballer of the Year. The Galway sharpshooter scored a brace of points for Corofin as they beat Salthill-Knocknacarra in the county final and he continued his excellent form through to the provincial final.
Ian Burke commented, "Coming out on top in the Castlebar game was a personal highlight for me as they had beaten us on two previous occasions. The game could have gone either way and we were delighted to secure the win after extra time. The win over St. Brigids in the Connacht final meant a lot to Corofin. To emerge from Connacht after beating two top class teams is a testament to the work rate and dedication of all involved in Corofin and sets us up nicely for the All-Ireland Semi-final."
Commenting on winning the AIB Connacht Club Footballer of the Year, Ian said, "It's a massive honour to win this award. Club football in Connacht is exciting as the quality of teams is exceptional with footballers of the highest calibre being produced. So to receive this award is a great honour for myself and my club."
2016 AIB Provincial Club Player Award Winners
Camogie
Connacht - Orlaith McGrath, Sarsfields
Leinster - Shelly Farrell, Thomastown
Munster - Eimear McDonnell, Burgess
Ulster - Aoife Ni Chaiside, Slaughtneil
Football
Connacht - Ian Burke, Corofin
Leinster - Diarmuid Connolly, St Vincents
Munster - Daithi Casey, Dr Crokes
Ulster - Chris McKaigue, Slaughtneil
Hurling
Leinster - Con O' Callaghan, Cuala
Munster - Tony Kelly, Ballyea
Ulster - Cormac O' Doherty, Slaughtneil
*No award for Connacht given automatic qualification
