The Laois GAA award winners for the 2022 season have been announced this morning – with 22 handed out.
A total of 17 GAA clubs are represented among the winners with a final spread across the county.
Clough-Ballacolla, Camross, Abbeyleix and St Joseph’s all have two each.
Portarlington, The Heath, Portlaoise, Rosenallis, Borris-Kilcotton, O’Dempsey’s, Rathdowney-Errill, Emo, Ballinakill, Castletown, St Brigid’s, Naomh Eamann and Timahoe all have one each.
The award winners were chosen by a combination of the media and Laois GAA officials.
LaoisToday, Leinster Express, Laois Nationalist and Midlands 103 were asked to submit nominations for the awards last week.
Then a selection committee of Laois GAA officials ultimately decided who the winners were.
Laois Camogie have three winners and Laois Ladies football have chosen one winner.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Midlands Park Hotel on November 18 – the first in-person event since 2019.
Check them out below:
2022 LAOIS GAA AWARDS
Senior Club Football – Paddy O’Sullivan (Portarlington)
Over the three years of Portarlington dominance, this award has been hotly contested amongst an array of players.
But nobody came close to Paddy O’Sullivan this year. He was simply sensational for his side – went to war time after time and dragged his side over the line.
Laois Senior Football – Mark Barry (O’Dempsey’s)
After a bright start, 2022 was a disappointing year for the Laois senior footballers.
However, the emergence of Mark Barry as a regular starter was certainly a bright spot. At just 22-years-old, he has all the attributes to dominate the full forward line for a decade or more.
Intermediate Football – Dylan Kavanagh (The Heath)
2022 was a real breakthrough year for Dylan Kavanagh who made a big impact in his debut season with the Laois footballers.
He was similarly impressive for The Heath as his pace and scoring power led them to Intermediate glory.
Junior A Football – Mikey Dowling (Portlaoise)
Mikey Dowling started in a Leinster U-20 final for Laois a couple of years ago and is an extremely good defender.
After spending 2021 abroad, he enjoyed a good year with Portlaoise’s second string and should be capable of forcing his way into the Senior set up next year.
Junior B Football – Matthew Collier (Camross)
Camross were relegated from the Junior A championship in 2021 due to giving walkovers but wasted no time in making an immediate return.
Matthew Collier was a rock in defence all year for them as they defeated Errill in the final.
Minor Football – Jeremy Kelly (St Joseph’s)
St Joseph’s ended a 54-year wait for Minor A football glory earlier this year as they defeated Stradbally Parish Gaels in the final.
Jeremy Kelly operated at wing forward on that very impressive team and also represented the Laois minor footballers in 2022.
Senior Club Hurling – Darren Maher (Clough-Ballacolla)
Like Portarlington, Clough-Ballacolla have been models of consistency in their three years at the top.
And nobody has epitomised this more than Darren Maher. He was outstanding in the semi final and final this year as he collected yet another yet.
Laois Senior Hurling – Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney-Errill)
Like the Laois footballers, the Laois hurlers endured a difficult year that ended with relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup.
But Rathdowney-Errill’s Paddy Purcell remained a threat and it will be interesting to see if new manager Willie Maher employs him at centre back where he got great joy this year at club level.
Premier Intermediate Hurling – Enda Rowland (Abbeyleix)
We joked before this competition started that it would take a bubonic plague to stop Abbeyleix from winning – and as none arrived, that is what they did.
Enda Rowland was immense and finished as one of the highest scorers despite playing in goals.
Intermediate Hurling – Canice Coonan (Clough-Ballacolla)
It was an incredible year for Clough-Ballacolla as their second team claimed the Intermediate title.
Canice Coonan was remarkably consistent on the half forward line where he routinely popped up with important scores.
Junior A Hurling – Declan Phelan (Abbeyleix)
Long-serving Declan Phelan has been a mainstay of Abbeyleix’s first team for a number of years prior to this season.
He finished with 1-5 in the final, with a couple of big scores in the second half and he showed huge leadership and quality throughout the championship.
Junior B Hurling – Sean Dunne (Rosenallis)
Rosenallis have been on a serious upward curve in recent years and their second team are now up to Junior A level.
Sean Dunne was prolific for them all year and his two goals in the final helped them defeat Clough-Ballacolla.
Minor Hurling – Jer Quinlan (Borris-Kilcotton)
The Laois minor hurlers enjoyed one of their best ever years in 2022 as they reached the Leinster final and played in the All-Ireland series.
Borris-Kilcotton’s Jer Quinlan was integral to this at full forward and played a strong role for his side who reached the semi finals of the club championship.
Laois Ladies – Mo Nerney (Timahoe)
Mo Nerney is magic and she is rightly recognised with this award from the LGFA.
She finished the season with Laois as the highest scorer in the country as they claimed All-Ireland Intermediate glory.
Intermediate Camogie – Jessie Quinlan (St Brigid’s)
After years and years of trying, St Brigid’s finally got over the line to be crowned Laois camogie champions.
Jessie Quinlan at midfield was the driving force behind their first success since 2004.
Junior Camogie – Karla Whelan (Naomh Eamann)
Naomh Éamann were crowned Laois Junior Camogie champions for the first time in their history after a very convincing victory over The Harps.
Karla Whelan scored freely for the Castletown outfit all year with her 1-4 in the final capping an excellent year.
Minor Camogie – Grainne Delaney (Camross)
The Laois Minor Camogie team enjoyed a very positive year where they went all the way to the Minor B All-Ireland final.
They were just pipped by Offaly in the final but Grainne Delaney was excellent for them all year at centre forward and is a very deserving winner.
Referee – Patrick Phelan (Castletown)
This year’s refereeing award goes to a man who refereed his first Senior final this year – Castletown’s Patrick Phelan.
Phelan only took up refereeing in 2019 and this is only his second season at senior level which makes his rise all the more remarkable.
Rounders, Handball and Scor
The Rounders award has gone to Emo’s Chloe Keenan. She was on the mixed team that won the All-Ireland in their very first year competing.
Michael Martin of Ballinakill won the Scor award while Andrew Dowling and Tomas Lennon won the Handball award.
The St Brigid’s Handball Monavea Handball club men claimed the Over-35 ‘B’ All-Ireland Doubles title this year.
Hall of Fame – Kieran Brennan (St Joseph’s)
Kieran Brennan of St Joseph’s is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame – an award chosen by Laois GAA chairman PJ Kelly.
Brennan won five Laois senior championships with his club and represented his county between 1966 and 1978.
An All-Star nominee, he played against every other county in the country.
In 1986, Brennan was Laois manager when they won the National League after coming from Division 3 South.
They defeated Down in the quarter final, Dublin in the semis and Monaghan in the final by a point in Croke Park.
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