Connacht Rugby Awards Nominees Are Announced
Connacht Rugby has today unveiled the nominations for the annual end-of-season Awards Gala, taking place this year on Saturday, May 7 at the Bailey Allen Hall, NUI Galway.
18 awards will be given out at the ceremony celebrating the year’s achievements at all levels of the game in Connacht, including underage, club, schools, women’s and the professional squad.
The Players’ Player – as voted by the Connacht senior squad – will be awarded on the night as well as the Team Man of the Year, Fans’ Player of the Year, Try of the Year and an award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby.
The nominees are…
CONNACHT U-18 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mark Balaski
Corey Reid
David Robb
CONNACHT U-19 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Burke
Cillian Gallagher
Simon Meagher
CONNACHT U-20 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Peter Claffey
Stephen Kerins
Conan O’Donnell
CONNACHT WOMEN’S CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Elizabeth McKeever (NUIG RFC)
Emer Power (Portumna RFC)
Emma Clery (Galwegians RFC)
CONNACHT WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Laura Feely
Sene Naoupu
Mairead Coyne
CONNACHT CLUB OF THE YEAR
Westport RFC
Ballina RFC
NUIG RFC
CONNACHT COACH OF THE YEAR
Steve Parkinson (Colaiste Iognaid (the Jes))
Brian McClearn (NUIG RFC)
JP Walsh (Westport RFC)
CONNACHT REFEREE OF THE YEAR
Jason Cairns
Paul Cronin
Shane McElwee
CONNACHT JUNIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sean Tobin (Westport RFC)
Kevin Corcoran (Westport RFC)
Mickey Murphy (Ballina RFC)
CONNACHT SENIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory O’Connor (Buccaneers RFC)
David Panter (Corinthians RFC)
Anthony Ryan (Galwegians RFC)
CONNACHT RUGBY ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
James Connolly
Sean O’Brien
Peter Robb
CONNACHT RUGBY FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Denis Buckley
John Muldoon
Finlay Bealham
CONNACHT RUGBY BACK OF THE YEAR
Bundee Aki
Matt Healy
Tiernan O’Halloran
CONNACHT RUGBY FANS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR *
John Muldoon
Aly Muldowney
Denis Buckley
Ultan Dillane
Bundee Aki
Tiernan O’Halloran
Matt Healy
* Fans can vote for their Player of the Year here.