The Laois GAA award winners for the 2023 season have been announced this morning – with 26 handed out.
The only award that is not announced here is the U-20 football as that competition is only down to the semi final stage.
A total of 17 GAA clubs are represented among the winners with a fine spread across the county.
The award winners were chosen by a combination of the media and Laois GAA officials.
Representatives from LaoisToday, Leinster Express, Laois Nationalist, Midlands 103 and Laois GAA met recently where consensus was reached about the winners.
Laois Ladies and Laois Camogie both chose their own winners and they are named below.
The Mochua Print and Design Laois GAA awards night will take place in the Midlands Park Hotel on November 24.
Check out the winners below:
Senior Football – James Kelly (St Joseph’s)
St Joseph’s ended their famine last month as they defeated Portlaoise in the SFC final.
James Kelly was a top performer for them all year and cemented his place here with two great scores in the final. After a year away, Laois fans will be hoping to see him back in 2024 too.
Senior “B” Football – Tom Shiel (Stradbally)
The first ever Senior B, now named the John Conway Cup, was won by Stradbally who defeated The Heath in the decider.
Tom Shiel finished as the top scorer in this competition with his performances in the wins over Park-Ratheniska and Ballyroan-Abbey particularly crucial.
Intermediate Football – Gary Walsh (Ballylinan)
Ballylinan made an immediate return to the Senior grade after a year away thanks to victory over Crettyard.
Ryan Brady won man of the match but Gary Walsh has rightly been named player of the year. Top scorer, he will be hoping to guide his team to the Leinster final when they meet Allenwood on Saturday.
Intermediate “B” Football – Conor Whelehan (Timahoe)
The Intermediate B was a new addition this year for the four teams who didn’t reach the semi finals proper.
Although the final was never played, Timahoe were declared winners after receiving a walkover from Ballyroan-Abbey. Conor Whelehan has taken this award after some fine displays for his team – particularly in the win over Arles-Kilcruise.
Junior Football – John Scully (Annanough)
Annanough absolutely waltzed their way to Junior A glory this year – defeating The Harps with a degree of comfort in the final.
John Scully has soldiered with his club for many years now and looks reborn in his new midfield/forward role. A key member of the team this year.
Minor Football – David Donohue (Stradbally Parish Gaels)
Stradbally Parish Gaels claimed their first Minor ‘A’ title since 2006 in dramatic fashion last month when they defeated St Joseph’s.
Stradbally’s David Donohue was the hero on the day as he finished with 2-3 – including the last minute goal.
Senior Hurling – Tomas Keyes (Camross)
After a simply brilliant year, it was impossible to see this award going anywhere else but to Tomas Keyes.
He was the top scorer from play in the championship by a mile – and finished it off with a hat trick in the final win over Abbeyleix.
Premier Intermediate Hurling – Eoin O’Connor (Portlaoise)
The Town are back at the top table of hurling in Laois once again following a comfortable final win over Ballyfin.
Captain Eoin O’Connor played in a range of positions in the defence throughout the year and his versatility was key for Tommy Fitzgerald’s men.
Intermediate Hurling – Nathan Dunne (Colt-Shanahoe)
With James Keyes away for most of the year, Colt-Shanahoe needed other players to step up and Nathan Dunne certainly done that.
Rarely missing a free all year, he was Colt-Shanahoe’s top scorer as the newly formed club claimed IHC glory.
Junior Hurling – Michael Brennan (Park Ratheniska Timahoe)
After playing most of his hurling in attack, Mick Brennan moved back into defence this year and was brilliant.
Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe were solid all season and a lot of that was down to how he operated from full back and how he organised those around him.
U-20 Hurling – Justin Duggan (The Harps)
A minor winner this year too, Justin Duggan added U-20 glory as his side defeated Abbeyleix again in the final last weekend.
He was simply sensational all championship and The Harps have a real gem on their hands for years to come.
Minor Hurling – Eoghan Murphy (The Harps)
Like Duggan above, Eoghan Murphy claimed Minor and U-20 hurling glory with The Harps this year.
He was inspirational for his side from centre back as they also triumphed over Abbeyleix in the decider.
Laois Inter County Senior Football – Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen)
The Laois footballers endured a difficult year in 2023 as they failed to gain promotion from Division 4.
They did go on a run through the Tailteann Cup and reached the semi final where they were well beaten by Down. Mark Timmons had a very good year from centre back where he turned in a series of very impressive performances.
Laois Inter County Senior Hurling – Stephen Maher (Clough-Ballacolla)
Like the footballers, 2023 was a difficult year for the hurlers as they were relegated in the league and failed to reach the Joe McDonagh cup final.
Clough-Ballacolla’s Stephen Maher couldn’t be faulted though as he was in brilliant form in front of goal all year.
Scor – Courtwood Quiz Team (Pat O’Connell, Brian Nolan, John Boland & PJ Kelly)
The reigning Laois champions Courtwood take the Scor award for this year – Pat O’Connell, Brian Nolan, John Boland and PJ Kelly.
Courtwood actually have nine county titles since 2012. They didn’t enter in 2012, lost to Camross in 2018 and there was no competition in 2020 due to Covid. In that time, they were in four All-Ireland finals with one top 10 finish.
Billy Hogan was on the team every year until last year and his brother Mick Hogan stepped in for one of those wins also.
Referee – JJ Kirby (The Heath)
The referee of the year has been awarded to JJ Kirby who officiated over a range of finals this year.
Originally from Kerry, JJ is a Garda in Laois and has been officiating successfully in the county for many years now.
Hall of Fame – Martin Cuddy (Camross)
The latest inductee into the Hall of Fame is the legendary former Laois and Camross hurler Martin Cuddy.
He is the proud owner of 10 Laois Senior Hurling medals and one Leinster Senior Club Hurling title – where he was captain in the 1976/77 season.
With Laois, Cuddy won two All-Ireland ‘B’ titles in 1977 and 1979 – the latter as captain.
Martin represented Laois throughout the 1970s and 1980s – playing in Leinster Finals in 1981 and 1985 plus in a Centenary final in Thurles in 1984.
Before all of that, Cuddy spent time in England where he played with Eire Og in Oxford and won five Championships in Hertfordshire – and also a Junior.
He is a very worthy recipient of the Hall of Fame.
Camogie
Laois Camogie picked out four award winners this year. Minor Camogie goes to Eimear Hassett of St Brigid’s while the county award was won by Fiona Scully of Camross.
Intermediate Camogie Player of the Year is Sarah Ann Fitzgerald while Louise Mahony of The Harps is Junior Player of the Year.
Laois Ladies
Laois LGFA also chose four awards with corner back Clodagh Dunne given the county player of the year.
Senior club went to Fiona Dooley of Portlaoise, St Joseph’s Emily Lacey won Intermediate while Roisin Allen of Crettyard claimed Junior.
Handball
The Laois Handball Award Recipient for 2023 is Kevin Brennan of Clough-Ballacolla.
Kevin Brennan is a founding member of Clough Ballacolla Handball. A player, coach, administrator and sponsor at club and county level, he is a great ambassador for the game.
SEE ALSO – Two Laois groups honoured at all-Ireland community awards ceremony
