Sport

Fermanagh's Ciaran Corrigan wins UGAAWA merit award for February

Fermanagh's Ciaran Corrigan receives the UGAAWA merit award for February from Quinn Building sales & marketing executive, Seamus McMahon (left), and UGAAWA chairman John Martin Picture by Jim Dunne
Fermanagh's Ciaran Corrigan receives the UGAAWA merit award for February from Quinn Building sales & marketing executive, Seamus McMahon (left), and UGAAWA chairman John Martin Picture by Jim Dunne Fermanagh's Ciaran Corrigan receives the UGAAWA merit award for February from Quinn Building sales & marketing executive, Seamus McMahon (left), and UGAAWA chairman John Martin Picture by Jim Dunne

THERE are not too many dual players in Fermanagh but Ciarán Corrigan is one of them, yet there may not be many football followers who are aware of that.

The current success of the Erne footballers, with the Maguiresbridge man very much to the fore, hides his caman-wielding success.

That, however, is not bothering Ciarán at present as he is enjoying football life and has picked up a major award for his exploits.

He has been named winner of the Quinn Building Products UGAAWA Merit Award for February after storming displays in his new position at left half-back.

Rory Gallagher transformed Ryan McHugh from being a dangerous forward into an equally feared wing half-back. Now he has done the same with Corrigan as the Fermanagh flier has been a major figure in the Erne team's unbeaten run to the top of the Allianz Football League Division Two table.

The Maguiresbridge, St Mary's player has been storming forward from his number seven berth with purpose and result, and was never more positive than against Donegal last month when he rifled over four telling points from play, to help his team to a rare victory over their neighbours in a feisty battle at Letterkenny.

Obviously, Corrigan is enjoying his change of scenery.

“Yes, I am enjoying the change but I don't mind where I play. I am happy to play wherever the manager puts me,” says the Lisnaskea schoolteacher (23).

His caman has been packed away in the meantime as he has missed Fermanagh's Allianz Hurling League Division 3B campaign.

“With the football and hurling leagues running together now it would not be possible to play both games so I have had to shelve hurling at present but I hope to get back to that later in the year.”

He plays his club hurling with neighbouring Lisbellaw, the only senior club team in Fermanagh and they have to cross over into Armagh to play league and championship.

“The absence of other club hurling teams is a big problem in Fermanagh but, thankfully, some clubs are now forming underage hurling teams in the county and, hopefully, in the future, there will be more club hurling teams in the county and more competition,” he says.

For the present it is football that occupies Corrigan's mind and he is enjoying Fermanagh's League successes but warns: “I am happy, certainly, with the results to date but there is still a long way to go. We have two tough away games against Armagh and Meath to come and they will be difficult but, as the saying goes, it is one game at a time.”

Those four valuable points against Donegal ended the month in style for Corrigan and edged him ahead of the likes of Tyrone's Peter Harte, who broke Monaghan hearts with an early goal in their Allianz Football League Division One game; Stephen McConville, who was prominent in St Mary's University, Belfast's Sigerson Cup campaign; and James McNaughton, who played a big part in Cushendall's narrow AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final defeat.

Corrigan, who received his award at a function in Quinn's Corner Restaurant, added: “I am delighted and I thank the Ulster GAA Writers very much for giving me this award. It is a great honour. I am very pleased indeed,”

He receives an engraved Belleek Living Vase, specially designed silver cuff links from Carlingford Design House and training gear from O'Neill's International Sportswear. The presentation was made by Quinn Building Products Sales & marketing executive, Seamus McMahon.

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