Ofisa Collects Connacht Players’ Player Of The Year Award
All-action flanker Ray Ofisa has been chosen as the Connacht Players’ Player of the Year. The 29-year-old was selected by his fellow players as their top performer of the season, while team captain John Muldoon was revealed as the Connacht Senior Player of the Year.
Ray Ofisa, who has just completed his third season at the Sportsground, was a very deserving winner of the Connacht Players’ Player of the Year award.
Ofisa was also a winner of the award in 2007, while his back row colleague and team captain John Muldoon was revealed as the 2008/09 Connacht Senior Player of the Year, beating off stiff competition from Ofisa himself and Gavin Duffy.
Muldoon is poised to win his first Ireland senior cap this weekend against Canada.
Hooker Sean Cronin, after an impressive first season with the westerners, was selected as the Young Player of the Year by his playing colleagues.
Both players were presented with their awards at the annual Connacht Awards Night in the Radisson Blu Hotel over the weekend, which was attended by Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning coach Declan Kidney.
Presentations were also made on the night to Connacht players who will be moving on this summer.
Connacht Rugby CEO Gerry Kelly paid tribute to the players and thanked them for their efforts for Connacht and wished them the best of luck in their careers.
The players leaving the Sportsground this summer are: Mel Deane, Tim Donnelly, Andy Dunne, Andrew Farley, David Gannon, John Hearty, John Lyne, Brian McGovern, Joe Merrigan, Conor Muldoon, Colm Rigney, Danny Riordan and Mike Roberts.
2008/09 CONNACHT RUGBY AWARDS WINNERS:
Connacht Under-19 –
Shane Conneely (Corinthians/Jes)
Connacht Under-18 Schools –
Aaron Spring (Sligo Grammar/Sligo RFC)
Connacht Under-18 Youths –
Eoin McKeown (Galweigans/Jes)
Connacht Under-20 –
John O’Brien (Buccaneers)
Connacht Ladies –
Tandy Johnson (Galweigans)
Junior Club Player –
Eoin Rooney (Monivea)
Senior Club Player –
Darin Claasen (Corinthians)
Connacht Club of the Year –
Corinthians RFC
Referee of the Year –
Daithi Flood
Clubman of the Year –
John Carr (Tuam RFC)
Connacht Players’ Player of the Year –
Ray Ofisa
Connacht Senior Player of the Year –
John Muldoon
Young Player of the Year –
Sean Cronin
Outstanding Service Award –
John Holland
Hall of Fame –
Brendan Guerin
Contribution to Irish rugby and winning of the Grand Slam –
Mervyn Murphy