Sarsfields hand out awards

With the Sarsfields Ladies having won the Armagh Junior Championship and several Sarsfields Ladies having enjoyed All-Ireland success with Armagh, it was a night of celebration.

In addition this was to be a very special night for the Sarsfields Senior Player of the Year. The family of the late Kieran McGurk donated a Senior Player of the Year Perpetual Trophy to the club in honour of Kieran and this was to be the first presentation of this special award.

Kieran’s brother James, presented the trophy to the Sarsfields Chairman on the night. Addressing the crowd James said that the trophy was both to honour Kieran and to thank Sarsfields for being such a source of support and consolation to Kieran’s family.

Owen Reel, the Armagh Ladies Football Chairman, attended the function to make the presentations to the ladies.

The presentations began with the ladies with Ciara Robinson taking the Ladies Young Player of the Year Award. Ciara also received an award marking her All-Ireland success with Armagh minor footballers.

Ladies Senior Player of the Year was Niamh McGeown. Niamh, along with Andrea McAlinden, were also given awards marking their All-Ireland success with the Armagh Camogie team.

Each player in the ladies team along with the team mascot, Aaron Gallagher, was presented with their championship winning medal.

The ladies then presented awards to their management team of Shane Gallagher and John Toal thanking them for their contribution to the championship success.

Gary Creaney was the ‘B’ Player of the Year and Eoin Murray was the Young Player of the Year.

In terms of awards the highlight of the night was the first ever presentation of the Kieran McGurk Perpetual Trophy. Brian Lavery had the very special honour of being the first senior player to receive this special trophy. Kieran’s son Ryan and daughter Ciara presented the trophy to Brian Lavery on behalf of the McGurk family.

The night had got off to a great start with Armagh defeating Kerry in their backyard.

Sarsfields chairman Declan McAlinden reminded the crowd that this had not been done since 1982 when a Kieran McGurk goal had helped Armagh to victory.

After the presentations the club held a raffle to contribute to the fund for new premises for Derrytrasna Playgroup.

Declan McAlinden explained that the club, as an integral part of the local community, felt that it should support the playgroup and that many of the young players and local families had benefitted from the playgroup.

The raffle raised the very generous sum of £350 for the playgroup.