Ulster duo scoop keynote national gongs

Ulster duo Eugene Magee and Emma Clarke were lauded by their fellow players at the ESB Hockey Awards in Dublin on Saturday night, as they were named the Player’s Player of the Year by their respective international team-mates. Leinster players won the rest of the individual awards with Rovers’ pairing Neil Lyons and Kyle Good taking the men’s Senior Club Player and U18 player respectively while Railway goal machine Jean McDonnell was honoured with the women’s club player title. Hermes starlet Niamh Atcheler claimed the women’s U18 prize. Pembroke’s Craig Fulton was awarded Coach of the Year, adding yet another gong to the unprecedented four titles claimed in 21 days with his work in restructuring the training systems of the club’s lower teams also cited. Carol Metchette took title of Umpire of the Year, a deserved winner after her success at the Beijing Olympics. Loreto’s Sally Ann Fanagan scooped Volunteer of the year, while Grace Redmond received the President’s Award for her services to Irish Hockey. Ulster kingpins Cookstown were awarded Club of the Year title for the first time while Munster clubs claimed two awards, as Cork C of I were announced as the 2009 Youth Club, with Limerick taking the Emerging Club gong. Greenfields’ Fintan O’Flynn was awarded Development Coach of the Year, having guided a youthful squad to a Connacht title and the IHL wildcard playoffs.