History made as Paul Ring and Matthew Bradley are joint winners of Muskerry's top award

The Muskerry GAA Gala Awards night was a huge success that was held at the Talbot Hotel in Ballincollig recently before a crowd of just over 300 people.

There were three teams honoured on the night, the Muskerry Junior Football Team of the Year, the Muskerry Junior Hurling Team of the Year and a Muskerry Intermediate Football Team of the Year, that also included the Premier Junior grade.

The very last item on the agenda was the 2025 Muskerry GAA/EPH Controls Sports Star of the Year, and after a series of lengthy meetings by a panel of judges, for the first time ever in Muskerry, it was a joint award.

Aghabullogue pair Paul Ring and Matthew Bradley couldn’t be separated after a remarkable year for them and for their club.

The Coachford-based side won a second double in three years last year after winning the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC and the Co-Op SuperStores IAHC.

Ring was Player of the Match in the football final victory over fellow Muskerry team Uibh Laoire while Bradley got the winning scores in the respective deciders.

The Muskerry Junior Football Team of the Year and Muskerry Junior Hurling Team of the Year were naturally dominated by the respective winners Donoughmore and Ballinora, while it was no surprise that Aghabullogue had the bulk of the Intermediate Football Team of the Year.

There were a number of speakers on the night. The chairman of the Muskerry GAA awards committee John Feeney and Cork County Board PRO Ger O’Sullivan were some of the speakers on the night.

Recently appointed Muskerry GAA chairman Ed Warren was also present and spoke to the large crowd.

C103FM’s Michael Scanlon was the Master of Ceremonies for the night and he kept the show flowing in a very professional manner.

- Muskerry GAA Sports Star of the Year, sponsored by EPH Controls and presented by Trevor Casey:

Winners – Paul Ring and Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue).

Other nominees: Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Aoife Rodgers (Éire Óg), James Dwyer (Ballincollig), Gavin O’Sullivan (Donoughmore), Danny Miskella (Ballincollig), Neil Lordan (Ballinora), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), Mark Coleman (Blarney), Ben Mayer (Ballinora).

- Muskerry Junior Football Team of the Year, sponsored by the Talbot Hotel:

Eoin Kelleher (Éire Óg);

Kevin O’Neill (Grenagh), Mark Foley (Donoughmore), Cillian Murphy (Éire Óg);

Luke O’Leary (Aghinagh), Josh Crowley (Donoughmore), Kevin O’Connell (Donoughmore);

Mark Kelleher (Éire Óg), Seán O‘Hanlon (Donoughmore);

Brian Thompson (Éire Óg), Gavin O’Sullivan (Donoughmore), Daniel Holland (Donoughmore);

Darragh Kenny (Grenagh), Scott Barrett (Donoughmore), Seán Hurley (Éire Óg).

- Muskerry Junior Hurling Team of the Year, sponsored by Linehan Civil Engineering:

James Walsh (Grenagh);

John Carey (Dripsey), Mark Linehan (Inniscarra), Tim Forde (Ballinora);

David Enright (Inniscarra), Shane Kingston (Ballinora), Rory Honohan (Donoughmore);

Mark Lucey (Donoughmore), Mark O’Connell (Dripsey);

Liam Lyons (Ballinora), Seán Joyce (Grenagh), Colm O’Callaghan (Donoughmore);

Robert Coleman (Grenagh), Dan Twomey (Grenagh), Ben Mayer (Ballinora).

- Muskerry Intermediate Football Team of the Year, sponsored by EuroPumps Ireland:

John Buckley (Aghabullogue);

Paul Dilworth (Aghabullogue), William Ronan (Kilmurry), Daniel O’Donovan (Uibh Laoire);

Paul Ring (Aghabullogue), Shane Kingston (Ballinora), Breandán O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue);

Colm Gillespie (Aghabullogue), Cillian Donovan (Macroom);

Mark O’Brien (Ballinora), Cathal Vaughan (Uibh Laoire), Seán O’Leary (Kilmurry);

Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue), Ed Myers (Naomh Abán), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra).