Marmion Is Connacht Players’ Player Of The Year

Connacht celebrated the past year of rugby at their annual Awards Dinner in the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway on Saturday night.

Nearly 300 people attended the event which saw awards presented to players, coaches, referees and volunteers across a range of categories.

The cream of Connacht’s underage talent kicked off the ceremony followed by awards for junior and senior clubs and the Women’s game.

The final award of the night was kept for the Players’ Player of the Year. This was the first year the senior squad were asked to vote for their player of the year. Recognised by his fellow peers and colleagues, scrum half Kieran Marmion received the highest accolade.

The 21-year-old Marmion has been involved in every single Connacht game, starting in all but two, since his debut last season.

In addition, the young back is the province’s top try scorer this season, getting over for that crucial score against Toulouse in France.

Marmion was also presented with the Back of the Year award, while club captain John Muldoon scooped the Forward of the Year honour.

Connacht stalwart Ronan Loughney was recognised as the Connacht Rugby Team Man of the Year. Throughout the year, the Irish-capped prop has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the game both on and off the pitch. He continues to match his playing and training with team support and charity work as well as community involvement.

Jack Carty was named the Academy Player of the Year after a terrific season for the 21-year-old out-half. The Athlone youngster has graduated from the Connacht Academy to a professional contract next season.

After captaining the Connacht Eagles in the British & Irish Cup, he went on to earn a handful of senior caps under Pat Lam. Carty earned his first start against Leinster in early January. A week later, he made his Heineken Cup debut against Italian side Zebre.

Dr. John O’Driscoll was inducted into the Connacht Rugby Hall of Fame for his extraordinary contribution to rugby within Connacht and Ireland and with the British & Irish Lions. John played for Connacht in the 1970s and toured South Africa (1980) and New Zealand (1983) with the Lions, playing in six of the eight Tests on those tours.

O’Driscoll, an uncle of Brian, was first capped at senior level against Scotland at Lansdowne Road in 1978, with his 26-cap international career finishing against the same opposition at the same venue eight years later.

In 1982, he helped steer Ireland to a first Triple Crown success in over 13 years. Playing alongside Fergus Slattery and Willie Duggan, he formed one of the most effective back row units in the history of Irish rugby.

He has remained actively involved with the IRFU to this day and represents the interests of the Exiles based in the UK looking to make their way on to the representative scene in Ireland.

CONNACHT AWARD WINNERS FOR 2013/14 SEASON:

CONNACHT U-18 SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by DNG Maxwell Heaslip & Leonard)

Conan O’Donnell (Summerhill College, Sligo)

CONNACHT U-18 CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by O2)

Matthew Cosgrove (Sligo RFC)

CONNACHT U-19 PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Deep RiverRock)

Rory Moloney

CONNACHT U-20 PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Dubarry)

Sean O’Brien

CONNACHT SENIOR WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Carlton Hotel, Dublin Airport)

Claire Raftery

CONNACHT WOMEN’S CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by DNG Maxwell Heaslip & Leonard)

Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians RFC)

CONNACHT CLUB OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Boston Scientific)

Galwegians RFC

CONNACHT COACH OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by RDJ Glynn)

Chris Davies (St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar)

MAZDA MAKE THINGS BETTER AWARD (Sponsored by Mazda)

Geraldine McNally (Loughrea RFC)

CONNACHT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Golden Eye Security)

Daniel Collins

CONNACHT JUNIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Keller Travel)

John Hayes (Ballinasloe RFC)

CONNACHT SENIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Inpho Photography)

Mark Dolan (Buccaneers RFC)

CONNACHT RUGBY ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Murray Timber)

Jack Carty

CONNACHT RUGBY FORWARD OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Heineken)

John Muldoon

CONNACHT RUGBY BACK OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by the Connacht Hotel)

Kieran Marmion

CONNACHT RUGBY TEAM MAN OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by the G Hotel)

Ronan Loughney

CONNACHT RUGBY PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Castleprint)

Kieran Marmion

CONNACHT RUGBY HALL OF FAME

Dr. John O’Driscoll