It is a game of opinions and the awards handed out at the Convention Centre on Friday night ran contrary to lots of people’s opinions.
Lee Keegan being named footballer of the year led to crazy accusations of anti-Dublin bias, despite it being a players’ vote.
Well, let there be no confusion over who decided the 2016 Wooly Awards – it was the SportsJOE.ie GAA Editor Colm Parkinson who selected the winner in each category, bar one.
Stephen Rochford can thank ‘GAA Hour’ contributor Barry Cahill for his tactical decision of the year award.
The other awards up for grabs, in football and hurling, include goal of the year, point of the year, manager of the year, disappointment of the year, individual performance of the year and the much-coveted ‘GAA Hour’ interview of the year.
Wooly also selects his teams of the year in both codes and a hurler and footballer of the year. Dubs beware – a certain Mayo defender picks up this accolade too.
Goal of the Year
Football: Lee Keegan (versus Dublin, replay)
Hurling: Joe Canning (versus Clare)
Point of the Year
Football: Sean Cavanagh (versus Donegal)
Hurling: Austin Gleeson (versus Kilkenny, drawn game)
Manager of the Year
Football: Liam Kearns (Tipperary)
Hurling: Michael Ryan (Tipperary)
Disappointment of the Year
Football: Roscommon
Hurling: Cork
Tactical Decision of the Year
Football: Alan Dillon starting against Tyrone (Stephen Rochford and Tony McEntee)
Hurling: Richie Hogan and TJ Reid to midfield for Waterford replay (Brian Cody)
Individual performance of the year
Football: Gary Brennan (versus Roscommon)
Hurling: Seamus Callanan (versus Kilkenny)
GAA Hour Interview of the Year
Conor Sweeney, Liam Kearns and the Tipperary panel on the bus full of cans
Hurling Team of the Year:
Eoin Murphy; Cathal Barrett, Daithí Burke, Paul Murphy; Padraig Walsh, Ronan Maher, Padraic Maher; Conor Fogarty, David Burke; Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, Austin Gleeson, Walter Walsh; John McGrath, Seamus Callanan, Richie Hogan
Football Team of the Year
Stephen Cluxton; Lee Keegan, Jonny Cooper, Brendan Harrison; Bill Maher, Cian O’Sullivan, Ryan McHugh; Brian Fenton, Mattie Donnelly; Jamie Malone, Diarmuid Connolly, Peter Harte; Paul Geaney, Michael Quinlivan, Danny Cummins
Hurler of the Year
Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
Footballer of the Year
Lee Keegan (Mayo)
Listen to the whole glitzy awards how below and do not be shy about telling us Wooly’s selections are brutal – he is not sensitive.
