2009 Irish News Ulster All-Stars
Congratulations to our 2009 Irish News All-Star winners, congratulations also to our Merit Award winners and a big congratulations to your Player of the Year Tyrone's Kevin 'THE HUB' Hughes.
You can View a wide range of photos taken at last nights event, just click here.
DELIGHTED: Kevin Hughes of Tyrone was named Footballer of the Year at the Irish News Ulster GAA Allstar Awards last night. He is pictured with broadcaster Derek Davis, who spoke at the ceremony at Armagh City Hotel. PICTURE: Hugh Russell
Readers hail Hub’s heroics.
KEVIN Hughes called the shots for Ulster champions Tyrone all summer. Last night there was no stopping the Kileeshil midfielder either, as he fetched the top prize at the 15th annual Ulster Allstar Awards when named Footballer of the Year for 2009.
It was a night of double celebration for him. The 29-year-old was selected in the Allstar team, voted for by the readers of The Irish News, for the first time before his season's outstanding form captured the overall award at the Presentation Banquet in the Armagh City Hotel.
Hughes was a consistent force this season. As he admitted during the Championship, this year was the fittest he’d been since starring in Tyrone’s first All-Ireland title win back in 2003.
He was central to the first round win over Armagh and to final victory against Antrim, winning his fourth provincial medal. But, for the 2008 All-Ireland champions, this year was all about retaining that title. That ambition was not realised as Cork won a ferociously contested physical battle in the semi-finals.
Hughes will be back down to business this weekend, on the field, as the cut and thrust of domestic rivalries sees his club challenge for a place in the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship. Kileeshil take on Gortin tomorrow at 4.30pm prior to the senior clash of Ardboe and Omagh.
Tyrone and Antrim dominated Ulster's football ‘Oscars’ last night, the Saffrons enjoying their most successful awards since the scheme was inaugurated in 1995.
The county had not been honoured since ’keeper Sean McGreevy in 2002. Last night Liam Bradley’s outfit won five Allstars, their first out-field awards since Kevin Brady nine years ago, with a family double for McCann brothers Michael and Tomas.
