LEE Keegan became Mayo’s first ever Footballer of the Year while Waterford’s Austin Gleeson completed a magnificent hurling double at tonight's GAA/GPA Allstars at the Dublin Convention Centre.
Keegan, who also picked up his fourth Allstar on the night, saw off Dublin duo Ciaran Kilkenny and Brian Fenton to take home the top prize in football.
It was the first time since Bernard Brogan in 2010 that the Footballer of the Year didn’t come from the county that lifted the Sam Maguire. Peter Canavan (1995) and Steven McDonnell (2003) are the other two players to win it from a losing team since the current version of the award started 22 years ago.
The Deise may have only made it as far as the All-Ireland semi-final, but it couldn’t stop Gleeson from picking up both the Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year awards.
Gleeson is only the second person to win both after Tony Kelly’s magical season for Clare in 2013 saw him rewarded in a similar manner.
The versatile Waterford man saw off Tipperary duo Pádraic Maher and Seamus Callanan in the Hurler of the Year category and team-mate Shane Bennett and Tipp’s Ronan Maher for Young Hurler of the Year.
Meanwhile, the O’Connor family’s imprint on the Young Footballer of the Year award became even more pronounced as Mayo half-forward Diarmuid O’Connor was honoured.
It was the second time in a row that he got the nod, and the half-forward now matches the achievements of his older brother Cillian who won the award in 2011 and 2012.
Also announced tonight was the Hurling Team of the Year and, as expected, champions Tipperary dominated as they picked up seven Allstars while four counties were represented in all.
The Premier county had award winners in defenders Cathal Barrett, James Barry, Pádraic Maher and Ronan Maher and attackers Patrick Maher, Seamus Callanan and John McGrath.
All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny picked up four awards with goalkeeper Eoin Murphy, defender Padráig Walsh and forwards Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan making the cut.
All-Ireland semi-finalists Galway and Waterford completed the team with two awards each.
The Tribesmen were represented at corner-back by Daithi Burke and at midfield by David Burke while Gleeson was named at centre half-forward for Waterford with Jamie Barron named at midfield.
The Football Allstars, announced on Thursday, were also handed out tonight with Ulster trio Mattie Donnelly, Peter Harte (both Tyrone) and Ryan McHugh (Donegal) collecting their awards.
