๐ Finbarr Buckley
SOUTH COAST SALES CROOKSTOWN UNITED AND QUINLANโS BAR were the toast of the CBL end-of-season awards presentations held recently at Turnerโs Cross, writes Finbarr Buckley.
Debutants Crookstownโs league and cup triumphs were rewarded with the Team of the Year award while Colm Crowleyโs impressive form throughout the season made him the popular choice for the inaugural First Division Player of the Year accolade.ย Quinlanโs Mooney Cup and OโDriscoll Cup wins were among the highlights of another memorable season with the outstanding Graham Hosford a unanimous selection as the Premier Division player-of-the-year following in the footsteps of the first winner UCC Unitedโs Cathal Doherty and last seasonโs recipient, Satellite Taxisโ John Harris.
The specially commissioned trophy pieces by Gary McCarthy Trophies and generously sponsored by Tadhg OโShea of JSK Eco Cleaning Solutions were presented following the leagueโs AGM.ย Among the topics discussed were entry to the Oscar Traynor Trophy competition, player registration on FAI.net and ideas to attract new teams for next season. Peter Harrington stepped down as secretary after a thirty-two year tenure and handed the reins to his assistant Peter Travers who becomes only the third holder to occupy the hot seat after Mr. Harrington and his predecessor Mick Mooney. The meeting concluded with the trophy presentations where PRO Finbarr Buckley welcomed Mr. OโShea, informing him that the end-of-season awards are an integral part of the leagueโs calendar while thanking him for his sponsorship over the past eleven years. He concluded by congratulating all the trophy winners during the season and wished all present continued success in the new season.
Planet Corkโs young scoring sensation ย Robert Egan ย received the golden boot as the First Divisionโs top scorer, his sixteen goals helping to take his club ย into the top half of the table in their first season with his last five goals coming in the last two matches to pip Co. Councilโs Jason Crowley by one goal.ย Shane Hennessy of Satellite Taxis topped the Premier Division scoring charts with twenty-two goals ahead of Doolanโs Cowโs marksmen and former winnerโs Jamesย Cotter and Tonyย OโReilly.
Jim Hennessy was a popular recipient of the Referee of the Year accolade after another impressive season on the leagueโs panel where he featured in the middle in the Linehan Cup final as well as being an assistant in the, shield, Mooney and OโDriscoll Cup deciders . He will feature again on the panel next season and will once again bring his assured performances to the fore for all present and new clubs to experience.
The introduction of a fair play award for the first time was welcomed by all present with Cork Hospitals the worthy winners have going through the campaign without having a player sent off.
The final award was presented to referee assessor Keith Spoonley in appreciation to his long service to the game following his retirement last year and in particular to the league where he was the resident assessor for over twenty years.
