Tallaght Rugby Club held their awards night at the Metro Bar in Tallaght village on Saturday the 30th April. Women’s Development Officer Martina Fitzpatrick handed out the awards for the women’s team and Caoimhe Hogan was presented with Most Improved Player after an excellent season when she really became a key member of the team.
Caoimhe Hogan – Most Improved player of the year
Rachel Davis, whose work in the lineout has been outstanding this season, was awarded Best New Player.
Skipper Catherine Murphy was awarded Player of the Year for the second time for both her outstanding play on the pitch and her endless work and enthusiasm for the team off it.
Try of the Year went to whole team Tallaght Women’s Rugby Team for scoring after 12 phases, being awarded a penalty and the ball being grounded by Catherine Murphy. All the members of the team took the stage and were presented with a framed squad photo.
Director of rugby Luke Tyrrell gave out the trophies for the mens team and after some initial chaos eventually managed to give the right awards to the correct people.
Winger Gavin McKeon won the award for most improved player. As a newcomer to the game this season, Gavin has impressed everyone with his attitude and dedication to learning the game and his mastery of the game’s skills, particularly tackling, has been a lesson to all.
The club’s top try-scorer, Australian Simon Collie, won the awards for Best Newcomer and Best Try for his outstanding effort away to Greystones when he took a superb line ran the ball in from his own twenty two. As Simon was away his girlfriend Aoife took home the awards on his behalf. Tallaght native Aoife was also given a tribute or “finders fee” of a bottle of the finest Prosecco we could find in Aldi for bringing that wonderful Aussie to our club.
Finally it came to the player of the year and there were lots of strong contenders in Simon Collie, Adam Nolan and Paul Cunningham but the award went to David Clarke, who won it for the third time. “Clarkey” has become a model of consistency for the team both in attack and defence and he’s also a great club man helping out to referee several of the women’s games.
The Club Person of the year award went to Gerry Fanning who has taken over coaching the under 8s on Sunday morning. Gerry and his wife Audrey have become club stalwarts making a massive contribution to the future of Tallaght RFC.
Club President Ken Kinsella wished to thank the staff and management of the Metro Bar for a great night out and also Martina Fitzpatrick who organised the festivities.
Massive thanks to Ray Brennan for the great pics!
