Friends Of Dublin Hurling Awards Night Winners

The 16th Annual Friends of Dublin Hurling Awards night held in the Bonnington Hotel on Friday last was a great success with approx 250 guests there on the night. 

Guests arriving in were treated to wonderful music playing by students of Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin. 

Highlight of the night was the awarding of the Lar Foley Hall of Fame Award to Tom Ryan of Na Fianna who got a standing ovation as he walked from the back of the room to accept his award from Uachtarán and one of the founding members of FODH Michael O'Grady. 

Tom is known by so many people who go to Parnell Pk and then again seen in Páirc an Chrócaigh. You could wander up to Na Fianna or St. Vincents School and you would see him cutting the grass there! Tom will describe hurling as "the greatest game in the world"! 

Also receiving standing ovations were the 4 players of the year. 

FODH Hurler of the Year went to St. Vincents Conor Burke who was a nomination in this year's PWC All -Star Awards. 

The FODH Young hurler of the year was Brendan Kenny of Kilmacud Crokes. 

The Senior Camogie award went to Emma Byrne of Good Counsel Liffey Gaels, who was also an All-Star nomination this year! 

And a smiling Claire Gannon of Naomh Jude collected the Young Camogie Player Award and she was also presented with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her recent PWC All-Star Award. This is the 2nd All-Star Award sitting in the Templeogue club with Danny Sutcliffe having taken one in 2013. 

Senior club of the year went northside to Clontarf. 

While the Juvenile Award headed southside to Naomh Ólaf. 

Coaches of the year went to John Paul School of Malahide, where Bláthnaid Mc Kenna and Steven Murphy happily collected their awards from Dublin Hurling Development Officer Colm Burtchaell. Also recognised were Shane O'Brien who was with the U20 Hurlers while Minor coach of 2024 Martin Barry also received a recognition.  

As most people know the first place some children learn the art of camogie and hurling is in Primary School so the award for Primary School of the year went to Kinsealy National School and there on the night to present was Robert Forde of O'Neill's International Sportswear Limited to present a set of jerseys. 

He was then called upon a 2nd time to present another set of jerseys to secondary school of 2024 to St. Paul's College Raheny.

It was great to see the Dublin Senior Hurling Club Championship Cup sitting on the table along side the Camogie National League Division 1B Cup and also the Division 3 National League Cup sitting there in all their glory.