Gaelic Life hold first ever Ulster Club All Star awards

THE BRIGHTEST stars of the 2011 Ulster Club Championships gathered this week for the presentation of the first Gaelic Life Ulster Club All-Star Awards, held in association with Belleek Living and Squareball.

Quinn’s Corner, such a well-known venue for Gaels from across the province, was the venue for the ceremony as the great and the good of Ulster GAA came together for a night of celebration.

Guests of honour on the night were Ulster Camogie chairperson Kathleen Woods, Ulster Ladies chairperson Hugh Devenney, and John Devenney representing Ulster GAA to watch the recipients receive their awards. In his opening address, John Devenney paid tribute to Gaelic Life for launching the initiative, hailing the club stars as, “The lifeblood of the Association.”

Dominic McClements, general manager of Gaelic Life’s parent company, North-West News Group, revealed that the inaugural awards had been a tremendous success which had, “Captured the imagination of the GAA public,” having attracted more than 9,000 votes through the Gaelic Life Facebook page an additional 2,500 text votes.

It was Sperrin Og star Eimear Teague who claimed the Gaelic Life Ulster Club Ladies Footballer of the Year award, having helped guide her side to Tyrone, Ulster and All-Ireland Junior Club Championship honours. Teague was presented with her award by Gaelic Life journalist Ciaran Woods, and Ulster Ladies President Hugh Devenney.

Joe Kernan, while accepting a Club All-Star Award on behalf of his son Aaron who is currently on honeymoon, gave those in attendance an insight into the Crossmaglen philosophy to football and what it is that keeps them at the top year after year. When host Thomas Kane probed as to what exactly the magic ingredient was to their success, the former All-Ireland winning boss with the Ranger’s reply was a simple one.

“Sure we can’t be telling you that, because we want to keep winning for another few years yet!”

And it’s that pursuit of greatness which ensures that the club scene in 2012 will be stronger than ever, with new teams and new players emerging to take their place in the spotlight, with Gaelic Life there to follow them every step of the way.