Expanded Muskerry GAA awards committee honours Niamh McNabola, Emma Cleary and Méabh Murphy

Muskerry GAA has confirmed a revamped EPH Controls Awards Committee as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its long-running awards scheme. 

The announcement was issued by the Muskerry Board this week, outlining a refreshed structure designed to broaden representation. 

The committee has been expanded to bring a wider mix of voices, experience and sporting backgrounds to the table when choosing recipients of the monthly EPH Controls Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements across the division.

The 11-member committee will be chaired by John Feeney of Dripsey, with Michael Dilworth of Aghabullogue appointed Secretary. 

The remaining members are Diarmuid Kirwan of Éire Óg, Colm Vaughan of Cill na Martra, Briege Corkery, the former Cork ladies footballer and camogie legend, Pat Lane of Ballinora, Barry O’Mahony of The Echo, former Cork footballer Noel O’Leary, Enda Linehan of Inniscarra, Ciara O’Riordan of Uibh Laoire and Barry Holland of Donoughmore.

The Muskerry GAA Awards have recognised excellence throughout the division since 2014 and have grown significantly under the sponsorship of EPH Controls, who came on board in 2023. 

The winners progress to the annual EPH Controls Muskerry GAA Gala Awards Night each January, where the Overall Muskerry Sportstar of the Year is announced alongside the Divisional Football and Hurling Teams of the Year.

The Board says the expanded committee will ensure a wider range of knowledge, experience and perspectives are brought to the selection process, helping maintain the prestige and fairness of the awards into the future.

The announcement comes as Muskerry GAA and EPH Controls honoured this week the first three winners of 2026 at an event in Lee Valley Golf and Country Club in Ovens. 

The opening award of the year went to Emma Cleary of Éire Óg, recognised for captaining Cork to a superb Division 1 National League title. 

She was followed by Cloughduv’s Niamh McNabola, whose performances for Cork’s U23 All-Ireland camogie champions and UCC’s Ashbourne Cup winning side earned her the second award. 

The third honour went to Ballinora’s Méabh Murphy, celebrated for her contributions to Cork’s U23 All-Ireland success and UCC’s Ashbourne Cup campaign, where she was jointly acknowledged alongside McNabola.

All three now move forward as official contenders for the Overall Muskerry Sportstar of the Year next January.