GAELIC GAMES NEWS:THE DRAW for next year's GAA championships will take place next week in Croke Park. Although details have yet to be finalised the event this year will not be televised due to pressure of dates but it is expected to be broadcast live on RTÉ radio.
The GAA have been caught for schedule time because of a combination of factors. Firstly the draws couldn’t be made until after next weekend’s special congress in City West, which will be considering motions on the structure of next year’s hurling championship.
Once that has been concluded it was simply a matter of trying to get the soonest date on which all of the provincial officials could assemble to execute the draw, which is needed quickly to facilitate the setting of dates and venues for the fixtures.
RTÉ television would usually have broadcast the draws but on this occasion is unable to tie in with the GAA's date. Instead the business will go ahead in Croke Park next Tuesday on the same evening as the official launch by association president Christy Cooney of the 125 anniversary publication, The GAA – A People's History.
Elsewhere, Clare under-21 hurler Darach Honan has been named as the inaugural Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year. Honan was a stand-out performer for the county in their two most epic matches on the road to a very first All-Ireland title. In the Munster final win against Waterford the Clonlara player hit 2-2, as Clare claimed the county’s first provincial title at the grade and a couple of weeks later, added 2-4 in the memorable All-Ireland semi-final extra-time win over Galway, for whom Joe Canning tallied 4-7.
Honan was chosen from a shortlist that included Canning and Kilkenny senior Richie Hogan to claim the €1,000 prize. Also in the running were Clare team-mates John Conlon and Colin Ryan and Kilkenny’s John Mulhall.
Taking an injury into the final, Honan wasn’t as prolific against Kilkenny but his overall displays were an integral part of Clare’s historic achievement, which will help lift spirits in the county after a dismal senior campaign, which saw relegation from Division One of the NHL and failure to make an impact during the championship.
** The selection panel was broadcasters Marty Morrissey (RTÉ) and Micheál Ó Domhnaill (TG4), GAA sponsorship manager Paul Dermody and sponsors Bord Gáis Energy’s sport sponsorship manager, Cork All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Ger Cunningham.
