Meet the GAA stars vying for top 96FM/C103 award

A gala night of celebration awaits in local GAA circles this Friday as the annual 96FM/C103 Annual Sports Awards Banquet will be hosted by joint sponsors Rochestown Park Hotel. 

The monthly award winners will gather in the company of family members, club colleagues and invited guests to discover who will be named as the overall winner of this prestigious awards scheme which is now 21 years old.

Two other awards will also be presented on the night - the Donal Lehane Distinguished Career Award along with the Kieran O’Driscoll Youth Award.

2024 proved to be a very busy playing season at all levels and thus the respective monthly award winners had stiff competition, before being honoured with their individual accolades.

Here is the monthly roll call...

Although the year began with ultimate disappointment for both St Catherine's and Castlelyons after their early season visit to Croke Park, both clubs were recognised for their feats in reaching All-Ireland finals. Individual accolades were presented to the Saints' top-scorer Sean O'Donoghue and Alan Fenton, the razor-sharp marksman from Castlelyons.

February in hurling terms are usually associated with the Fitzgibbon Cup and the second monthly winner was a Corkman leading Limerick's Mary I to glory. Liscarroll/Churchtown Gales clubman Colin O'Brien proved an inspiring captain of the team that was coached by fellow Leesider Jamie Wall.

Interestingly, neighbours of Colin were in the spotlight in March as handball duo Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan followed up their All-Ireland doubles title in Croke Park by bringing a second monthly award back to Liscarroll.

GREAT GAMES

The lengthening evenings brought a welter of April action and the U20 grade served up some great games. Enter St Finbarr's wing-forward William Buckley whose point-scoring from play and placed balls got Cork hurlers over the line in a number of tight matches in Munster.

In Thurles in early May, the Cork senior camogie team gave us all an indicator of what might follow. They won the Munster final against Waterford. Following that success Laura Hayes from St Catherine's picked up the monthly sports award, the first individual accolade of a year that was to prove unforgettable as the talented defender later won an All-Star award and was named player of the year.

Football was in the spotlight in June as the judges honoured Knoackgree's Daniel O'Mahony in recognition of his outstanding displays for Cork in league and championship. The summer highlight was without doubt the early June triumph over Donegal on an emotional sweltering Saturday afternoon at Páirc Uí Rinn, in which Daniel was a huge presence.

By mid-summer, the focus was firmly on hurling and those emotionally draining epic encounters against Limerick and Clare as the All-Ireland championship reached a climax. 

July winner Rob Downey stood tall in the number 6 jersey and embellished his display with that wonder goal in the final. Although ultimately gutted to lose, Rob was honoured with an All-Star award and has since been named Cork captain for 2025.

Attention again fell on Croke Park in August and this time the Cork camogie team were taking centre stage. A never-to-be-forgotten double day of delight for the ladies in red saw intermediate glory followed by another senior crown. Defender Aoife Barrett and Pamela Mackey were award winners for the part they played in those triumphs.

Carrigaline had already won the hurling and football league double before they made a massive impression on the championship fields in both codes. Playing a crucial role was September winner Kevin Kavanagh, whose season was cut short before those County final days, but his contribution to a marathon campaign was recognised.

MAGICAL

Castlehaven were celebrating retaining the Andy Scannell Cup in October and the party was extended to honour the class of Michael Hurley, who despite some niggling injury issues, produced some magical moments to help the Haven secure title number seven.

The judges looked east in November, where Adam Murphy of Watergrasshill was called to join the roll of honour. Adam was a huge presence although the glorious unbeaten run of success which brought home county and provincial honours and ultimately All Ireland gold in early 2025.

The year concluded with long-serving Sarsfield's hurler Daniel Kearney playing a key part as his club were crowned Munster champions and afterwards came through a tough semi-final challenge to reach Croke Park. 

The energy of Daniel was key all season and it's no surprise when the former Cork star was honoured with the final award of 2024.