Bateman and Herbert take top awards

Karen Bateman’s inspirational performances in turning back the clock to help Cork Harlequins retain their Munster league title will be among 31 outstanding contributions recognised at the Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (MBIHA) Awards 2007-2009, to be held in the Fred South Room at Garryduff this evening (7.30pm). The decorated former Irish international repeatedly showed why she is still an asset at any level of the game as Quins saw off the challenge of UCC and Cork C of I in the most exciting women’s title race in years, and she will be honoured with this season’s women’s player of the year award. Bateman became the only player in the history of Munster hockey to claim 14 consecutive league winner’s medals in the process, as well as helping Quins reach the semi-finals of the inaugural Irish Hockey League.

C of I’s Andy Herbert scoops the men’s award after a fine season in which he earned his first Ireland A cap against Belgium U21. Southern Fried thought his strike against Fingal in the IHL – a diving reverse effort from the top of the circle – was one of the best seen anywhere this season. Herbert’s team-mate at Garryduff, Andrew Daunt, takes the junior men’s player of the year gong after being a vital cog in the club’s first Irish Junior Cup win in 16 years. Dermot Judge takes the coach of the year award for masterminding that triumph, which saw C of I oust five of the country’s biggest clubs along the way, while Catholic Institute prodigy Naomi Carroll – who has starred for Ireland’s U16 and U18 sides – wins the junior women’s player of the year award. Denis Pritchard is the first to be awarded development coach of the year for his outstanding work with the women of Ireland and UCC and Bandon Grammar’s boys. The latter sides have been named club and school of the year respectively for their trophy-laden seasons, while Andrew Gray is manager of the year for his work at provincial age-grade level and intervarsity finalists CIT. Alex Treacy will be a popular winner of umpire of the year, while one of the special merit awards will be given posthumously to Ciara O’Brien, a much-loved member of Fermoy HC who was tragically killed in a car accident last month. Others to receive special merit awards include outgoing branch president, John Rose, who has been awarded honorary life membership, while Val Shannon is recognised for 40 years of service to the schools game, and John Meyler’s sterling work with Limerick is also set to be honoured.

Volunteer of the Year is, unsurprisingly, the multi-talented Finbarr Kelleher, who is also up for the title at the IHA’s national awards later this month. The outstanding performers from the 2007/08 season will also be recognised, as the awards ceremony for that year was delayed due to the workload on volunteers. C of I’s Deirdre Casey and David Hobbs will win the respective player of the year awards for 2007/08, with the junior gongs going to Olivia Roycroft and Dan Hobbs. Institute’s Ger O’Carroll has been named coach of the year, while Eleanor Flood scoops the manager of the year award. MBIHA Awards 2007-2009 (Garryduff, 7.30pm) Winners 2008/09 Manager of the Year: Andrew Gray (Munster and CIT); Coach of the Year: Dermot Judge (Cork C of I); Development Coach of the Year: Denis Pritchard (Ireland, UCC and Bandon Grammar); Umpire of the Year: Alex Treacy; Women’s Player of the Year: Karen Bateman (Cork Harlequins); Men’s Player of the Year: Andrew Herbert (Cork C of I and Ireland A); Women’s Junior Player of the Year: Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute and Ireland U16/U18; Men’s Junior Player of the Year: Andrew Daunt (Cork C of I & Ireland U18); Club of the Year: UCC LHC; Volunteer of the Year: Finbarr Kelleher; School of the Year: Bandon Grammar; Honorary Life Membership: John Rose; 100 Senior Irish Caps: Mark Black (Cork Harlequins); Irish Junior Cup winners: Cork C of I; Special Merit Awards: Val Shannon (Ashton School); John Meyler (Limerick HC); Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon; Alan Good (UCC); Ciara O’Brien RIP (Fermoy HC). Winners 2007/08 Manager of the Year: Eleanor Flood (Cork Harlequins and Munster); Coach of the Year: Geraldine O’Carroll (Catholic Institute and Munster); Umpire of the Year: Catriona Hassey; Women’s Player of the Year: Deirdre Casey (Cork C of I); Men’s Player of the Year: David Hobbs (Cork C of I); Women’s Junior Player of the Year: Olivia Roycroft; Men’s Junior Player of the Year: Dan Hobbs; Club of the Year: Clonmel HC; Volunteer of the Year: Mary Walsh; School of the Year: Laurel Hill Coláiste. Special Merit Awards: Rory Noonan; Les Ruddock (Cork C of I)