CHAMPS CLANN EIREANN COLLECT GONGS
Richard Bullick
Clann Eireann began their quest for another Orchard domestic double at the weekend on the back of sweeping the boards at last month’s Gaelic Life Ulster Club All Star Awards in Monaghan’s Hillgrove Hotel.
The back-to-back provincial champions picked up a fairly conservative six slots in the ceremonial Ulster Club All Stars line-up – Cassie Henderson and Tiarna Grimes can feel a bit hard done by – but there were a couple of individual honours to celebrate too.
Gaffer Greg McGonigle got Manager of the Year, as he had done 12 months previously following Clann Eireann’s historic first Ulster success, while Cait Towe pipped her club captain Niamh Henderson for the Ladies Footballer of the Year accolade.
Niamh Henderson collected the Player of the Match award for both the Orchard county final and Ulster Senior Club Championship showpiece, but Towe tends to be one of those quietly effective unsung heroes which every team needs.
The other four Clann Eireann ladies footballers honoured were top-scorer Niamh Murray, young Orchard defender Roisin Mulligan, midfielder Niamh Coleman and county captain Clodagh McCambridge, whose younger brother Barry also won an Ulster Club All Star.
Reflecting their strength in both codes at age group and adult level, along with all the good development work which goes on within their local community in north Lurgan, Clann Eireann were also bestowed with the prestigious title of Club of the Year.
