THREE Derry players were honoured today for their exceptional club performances.
Aoife Ni Chaiside, Chris McKaigue and Cormac O’ Doherty were amongst a total of eleven camogie, football and hurling stars who received accolodaes at the annual AIB Provincial Club Player Awards. AIB, proud sponsor of both the GAA and Camogie Club Championships invited the players, their friends, family, GAA and Camogie representatives to celebrate their achievements at the lunch which was hosted by GAA broadcasting legend Des Cahill. Voted for by national and regional sports media, the winning players were selected based on their overall performance throughout the 2016 provincial club season.
The AIB Ulster Camogie Club award went to Aoife Ni Chaiside of Slaughtneil. Ni Chaiside was a force in the half-back line for Slaughtneil throughout their successful provincial run playing her part to make history for the Derry club as they went on to win Ulster titles in all three codes.
Commenting on the wonderful season, Ni Chaiside said, “On a personal note the highlight of our season so far was winning the county final against Ballinascreen because Daddy was there. We left the house thinking he wouldn’t be there because he was so low all that week. When I was getting presented with the cup I saw him coming walking across the pitch and it was unreal.
“We have lost him since and it is still so difficult but the club has helped our family so much to get through it. Daddy was part of our management as well and I think losing him is part of our team’s determination since.
“We haven’t looked too much ahead to the final yet because we just wanted to get past Burgess-Duharra in the semi-final. Now we’re really looking forward to it. We’ll try and bring the intensity that we brought to the semi-final and not let the occasion get to us. To be playing in Croke Park with our club friends is going to be unreal. These are the girls I have played camogie with forever and that’s what makes the All-Ireland club competition so great. To think we’re the first of the club’s three chances to get to an All-Ireland final makes it even more special. Now we’re going to enjoy it and wait and see if the boys can do it in the hurling and football.
“It is great to get individual recognition but I think this award is really all about the players that are around me who really bring out the best in me. There’s so many great players around me in Slaughtneill, any one of them could be getting this award today ahead of me.”
The AIB Ulster Club Football award went to Slaughtneil dual star, Chris McKaigue. McKaigue has been the driving force for Slaughtneil for a number of years now, and very much so in both codes as the small parish completed an amazing men’s doubles the camogie side also adding to the glory.
McKaigue talked passionately about his season at the Awards ceremony, “It’s very difficult to say what’s been our biggest achievement so far but, for me, probably it’s the fact that we won three in-a-row in Derry. Only two clubs have every done that before – Ballinderry and Bellaghy. To win three in-a-row in Derry club football takes some doing because it’s so competitive and of such a high standard. We’ve looked up to Ballinderry and Bellaghy for years so to finally achieve the same thing as them was a real highlight for me.
“We’ve prepared the very best we can for the semi-final and understand how tough it’s going to be against St Vincent’s because they’re favourites for the whole competition. But at the end of the day all four of the teams left all have experience so we just have to have the confidence, prepare and then see where that takes us. The moment we start deviating from what we’ve done for the last few years is the moment we’ll be in trouble.
“We respect St Vincent’s, like we do all our opposition, but we’ll not get caught up too much in who we’re playing and just concentrate on making our own mark on the game.
“It’s always nice any time you get an individual accolade like this and I appreciate it but the longer I’m around and playing I think it’s the team awards that mean most to me because they’re the pictures that sit proudest on my living room wall.”
The third winner of the day from Slaughtneil was Cormac O’ Doherty who took the AIB Ulster Hurling Club award. Dual player O’Doherty hit 1-09 to clinch the Ulster hurling title for Slaughtneil and make history for the Derry club.
O’Doherty reflected positively on the season while looking ahead to the Semi’s, “The highlight for us so far was the final whistle in the Ulster final when we beat Loughiel. No Derry club had ever won the AIB Ulster Club Senior Hurling final before so to do it, with everything else that was happening in the club, was a really special moment for us all. A lot of Derry teams had lost Ulster finals. We’d lost one ourselves last year when Cushendall beat us by a point after extra-time, so finally getting over that hurdle was huge for us.
“We’re under no illusions about how big a task the All-Ireland Semi-Final will be because, like us, Cuala have been knocking on the door in Leinster and were unlucky to lose to Oulart-the-Ballagh last year. They’re a young team with four or five county hurlers so it’ll be a big challenge for us.
“We’re stepping up to another level now, like we did from Derry to Ulster and now to the All-Ireland semis so we have to find another gear. We know we’re up against it, a Derry hurling team coming down the country, but we’ve upset the odds before and will try our best to do it again.
“Winning an award like this is really special. It’s a nice reward for a lot of years of hard work, not just this year. It’s a really nice finish to what has been an unbelievable year for us but at the end of the day it’s all about the team. If my performances can help the team, then that’s what it’s all about. We’ve got a wee bit of success so far but now we want more and what better stage to do it on than in the AIB All-Ireland club championship.”
Speaking at the AIB GAA Provincial Club Player Awards, Denis O’Callaghan, AIB Head of Retail Banking said “AIB are delighted to honour some of the country’s greatest club camogie, football and hurling stars at our annual club player awards. There have already been many historic moments in this year’s AIB Club Championship, and I think everyone is looking forward to all the up and coming semi-finals and of course the Finals in Croke Park in March”.
Denis continued “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the national and regional sports media for taking the time to cast their votes and for their continued support for the AIB GAA Club Championships.”
The Camogie Association President Catherine Neary added: “I am very much looking forward to the final matches in the 2016 AIB All-Ireland Club Championships when our Senior & Intermediate Finals take place in Croke Park on March 5th in what has been was another fantastic season of Club Camogie action.
Today is a great opportunity to honour some of the top performers in the AIB Club Championships and to recognise the great skill and dedication which they have shown this year. To represent your club and your parish is a huge honour for any player and l would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them all and to thank AIB for their continued support in highlighting such fabulous role models for all young Camogie players.”
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghaíl added: “2016 was another fantastic year for our clubs and our AIB club championships and that outlook is exemplified in the presence of the cream of our club talent here today.
“Nothing surpasses the sense of achievement of winning with your own and while many of these players have competed at county level there something unique and special accompanying what they have done in their respective campaigns.
"I congratulate and laud them all and I also acknowledge the role of AIB in helping to shine a light on on-field GAA excellence all year around.”
