A HAT-TRICK of awards for October was handed out to Ulster handball this week with coaching honours won by Breda Dick and Patrick O'Neill, while Ryan Oliver made it a double for UUJ Elks by winning the Men's Division One Player of the Month honour.
Ulster Rockets went through October unbeaten with wins over UL Huskies and Dublin's Oblate Dynamos while Elks men dispensed with LYIT Donegal, Sligo All Stars and Dublin Lions. In those three UUJ wins, Ryan Oliver starred and collects the Men's Division One Player Trophy for last month.
“It is a good job last weekend's games didn't come into the reckoning, as we lost our unbeaten run in Kilkenny,” said Dick, who won a Coach of the Month award last season also.
Patrick O'Neill, in his first season coaching Elks at national level, obviously is delighted with his award and, also, with the one for Ryan Oliver: “These awards are voted on by other coaches so that makes them a bit special. I'm very glad to see Ryan (Oliver) being recognised for his displays. He has been in great form,” said O'Neill.
It is back to basics this weekend with Star at home (7pm) to unbeaten Templeogue and really need to take the scalp of the visitors to keep any hope of a high finish in the Super League.
New American recruit Dillon Stith has been in superb form since joining Star and Keelan Cairns, after slow start to the season, is now showing his form. Stith (33) and Cairns (23) scored all but 15 points of their team's tally in defeat (92-71) by Swords Thunder last weekend. It is obvious that a better return from the other local players is necessary.
Ulster Rockets missed the power of both Mimi Troy and Nicola Rafferty in Kilkenny but hopes are held that Troy may have recovered from a knee injured, suffered against Oblates, to face unbeaten IT Carlow, at Methody (4.30pm).
“It will be a late decision whether or not Mimi can play,” said Dick.
UUJ Elks remain undefeated in Men's Division One and have a home match on Sunday against LYIT Donegal, but will be without Matt McColgan, who is unavailable until after Christmas, plus both their Lithuanian players. If Elks can deal with towering Oisín Kerlin, ball carrier Kevin Stanley and shooter Jack Mackey they should keep their unbeaten run going.
The Elks women are also at home on Sunday to Fr Mathews from Cork. The Jordanstown girls have played only two games, so far, winning one while the Cork team are in a one-and-three situation. Home advantage should help Elks.
OCTOBER MONTHLY AWARDS
Men’s Super League Player: L Murphy (Templeogue); Men’s Super League Coach: M Keenan (Templeogue); Women’s Super League Player: S Fairbanks (DCU Mercy); Women’s Super League Coach: M Scannell (UCC Glanmire); Men’s Division One Player: R Oliver (Ulster University Elks); Men’s Division One Coach: P O'Neill (Ulster University Elks); Women’s Division One Player: M Hoffman (Oblate Dynamos); Women’s Division One Coach: B Dick (Ulster Rockets).
