Swift Chosen As Connacht Player Of The Year

Connacht Rugby celebrated its 125th year at the province’s annual Awards dinner in the Galway Bay Hotel last weekend.

Over 200 people attended the event which saw awards presented to players, coaches, volunteers and referees 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 players and was rounded off with the players’ awards.

Connacht’s most-capped player Michael Swift was crowned Player of the Year, with Johnny O’Connor, who has captained the side in recent months, winning the Players’ Player of the Year award.

Andrew Browne was honoured as both the Young Player of the Year and the Players’ Young Player of the Year, following an impressive run of games in the Magners League and Amlin Challenge Cup.

The focal point of the evening was the induction of Billy Mulcahy into the Connacht Hall of Fame. This prestigious award has previously been presented to Brendan Guerin, Noel Mannion, Tony O’Suillivan and Ciaran Fitzgerald.

The honour recognises Mulcahy’s extraordinary contribution to rugby within Connacht. He played for Connacht throughout the 1990s, representing the province on 57 occasions.

He gained six caps with the Ireland ‘A’ team and also played for Ireland in the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament at Murrayfield in 1993

2010/11 CONNACHT AWARD WINNERS:

• Under-18 Youth Player of the Year: Conor Fitzgibbon (Buccaneers), presented by Brendan Duffy of Supermacs
• Under-18 Schools Player of the Year: Robert Henshaw (Marist), presented by Brendan Duffy of Supermacs
• Under-19 Player of the Year: Shane Layden (Carrick-on-Shannon), presented by Brendan Duffy of Supermacs
• Under-20 Player of the Year: Mark Dolan (Corinthians)
• Clubman of the Year: John Martin (UCG), presented by Siobhan Burke
• Women’s Player of the Year: Claire Raftery
• Referee of the Year: David Connolly, presented by Eric Elwood
• Junior Club Player of the Year: Michael Murphy (Ballina), presented by Jimmy Staunton of Rugbytech
• Senior Club Player of the Year: John Cleary (Galwegians), presented by Aoife O’Donohue of Aer Arann
• Club of the Year: Sligo (John Kane, President), presented by Andrew Forde of Heineken
• Young Player of the Year: Andrew Browne, presented by Tom Forde of Bank of Ireland
• Player of the Year: Michael Swift, presented by Tom Forde of Bank of Ireland
• Players’ Player of the Year: Johnny O’Connor
• Players’ Young Player of the Year: Andrew Browne
• Hall of Fame Inductee: Billy Mulcahy