Connacht Awards Double For Henshaw

Robbie Henshaw was last night voted the Connacht Rugby Players’ Player of the Year by his fellow team-mates at their annual Awards night in Galway.

Robbie Henshaw has had a stand-out season, starting all of Ireland’s RBS Nations games and putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the game against England in which he scored his first international try.

But last night’s award was for his contribution to his Connacht team and the success of the 2014/15 campaign. Connacht supporters echoed the views of the players with Henshaw also taking home the Connacht Rugby Fans’ Player of the Year award which the public voted on through the Life Style Sports website. 

The Athlone youngster was delighted to receive both awards, saying: “To be voted for by the fans is brilliant and I’m delighted with the award. We have the best supporters in Connacht and I really appreciate all their support of me and the team – especially the way they turn out in numbers at the Sportsground week in week out.

“Winning the Players’ Player award is something very special to me. I’ve had a fantastic year and to be acknowledged by my Connacht team-mates for helping the team in what has been a great season is just massive.”

Sligo RFC (pictured above) were awarded the Connacht Club of the Year following their most successful season in the Ulster Bank League in over a decade. Sligo’s seconds team achieved promotion to J1B, the Women’s team won the Connacht Invitational Cup while the Under-18s won the Connacht League and Cup double. In addition, Sligo had two teams competing at the top level of Connacht Schools rugby with Sligo Grammar and Summerhill College both heavily backed by Sligo RFC.

Off the field, the club has developed significantly in recent years, displaying best practice at committee level and driving excellent structures throughout the club as displayed by establishing themselves the number one club in Connacht according to the IRFU health check.

2014/15 CONNACHT RUGBY AWARD WINNERS:

CONNACHT U-18 CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luke Carty (Buccaneers RFC)

CONNACHT U-18 SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cillian Gallagher (Summerhill Sligo)

CONNACHT U-19 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Conan O’Donnell

CONNACHT U-20 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory Moloney

CONNACHT WOMEN’S CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emma Cleary (Galwegians RFC)

CONNACHT WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Grainne Egan

CONNACHT COACH OF THE YEAR
Dave Purcell (CBS Roscommon)

CONNACHT CLUB OF THE YEAR
Sligo RFC

CONNACHT REFEREE OF THE YEAR
David Connolly

CONNACHT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Padraic McGann (Monivea RFC)

CONNACHT JUNIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dave McDonagh (Connemara RFC)

CONNACHT SENIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Martin Cummins (Galwegians RFC)

CONNACHT RUGBY ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eoghan Masterson

CONNACHT RUGBY FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Denis Buckley

CONNACHT RUGBY BACK OF THE YEAR
Matt Healy

CONNACHT RUGBY TRY OF THE YEAR
Kieran Marmion (v Leinster, September 2014)

CONNACHT RUGBY TEAM MAN OF THE YEAR
Aly Muldowney

CONNACHT RUGBY FANS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Robbie Henshaw

CONNACHT RUGBY PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Robbie Henshaw