Munster sweep boards at IHA awards

Munster schools, players, clubs and volunteers were left happiest as the province swept the boards at the Irish Hockey Awards in Dublin on Saturday night, claiming seven of the 15 awards decided by public vote. That included both the senior club players of the year prizes, with Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute) taking the gong after a stellar year saw her break into the senior Irish panel and win European gold at U21 level, while Cork Church of Ireland’s marauding full-back David Harvey took the men’s prize.

Phil Oakley was named coach of the year after guiding Cork Harlequins to a remarkable treble that included a fairytale dream Irish Senior Cup victory and a  Munster men’s league and senior cup. Catholic Institute women’s coach Ger O’Carroll was a popular winner of the volunteer of the year gong, while Ursulines Thurles and Fermoy HC were rewarded for their recent successes with the school and developing club of the year awards respectively. Audrey O’Flynn won the Ireland women’s players’ player of the year prize, no great surprise in a year that saw the drag-flicking expert finish as top scorer at March’s Olympic qualifiers despite breaking her jaw at that tournament. Ulster’s teak-tough defender John Jackson claimed the men’s equivalent. Carol Metchette was one of the most popular winners at the event, the recently retired double Olympian awarded the umpire of the year globe. Irish Hockey also inducted four newcomers into the Hall of Fame: Noel Quinn (Queens University, Lisnagarvey, Ulster and Ireland), Eilish Macken (Knock, Pegasus, Ulster and Ireland); Laura Dobbs(Muckross, Leinster and Ireland) and Mark Sinnamon (Banbridge, Ulster and Ireland). Joan Priestman – one of the inaugural Hall of Fame inductees in 2006 – was honoured with the President’s Award, speaking eloquently about her life in hockey. Beyond the playing pitch, she was instrumental in bringing the women’s world cup to Ireland in 1994 among many other involvements. ** To see Ian Hall’s excellent set of photos from the night, click here (facebook link) Samurai Senior Men’s Club Player of the Year: David Harvey (Cork C of I) Electric Ireland Senior Women’s Club Player of the Year: Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute) Volunteer of the Year: Geraldine O’ Carroll (Catholic Institute) Dixon Rose Umpire of the Year: Carol Metchette Samurai U18 Male Player of the Year: James Lorimer (Mossley – now with Lisnagarvey) Electric Ireland U18 Female Player of the Year: Elaine Carey (Galway) O’Driscoll O’Neil Coach of the Year: Phil Oakley (Cork Harlequins) Magnum Events U-18 Coach of the Year: Sarah Scott (Leinster/St Gerard’s) Electric Ireland Club of the Year: Greenfields Electric Ireland Youth Club of the Year: Loreto Developing Club of the Year: Fermoy Hockey Club Hockey School of the Year: Ursuline Thurles Seconday School Presidents Award: Joan Priestman Samurai Players Player of the Year: John Jackson Electric Ireland Players Player of the Year: Audrey O’Flynn