Gavin Secures EirGrid Accolade

Jim Gavin has topped off an outstanding Championship season by receiving the inaugural EirGrid Manager Moment of the Year award.

Gavin led his squad to an All-Ireland victory in September going down in history as the only man ever to lead his team to five in a row championships in either men’s Gaelic football or Hurling.

The Dublin boss was also announced as winning the EirGrid Manager Moment of the Month for September and beat off opposition from Laois Hurling boss Eddie Brennan and Tipperary’s All Ireland winning man in charge Liam Sheedy.

EirGrid launched the monthly award back in July as a celebration of their fourth year as the Official Timing Partner of the GAA.

A panel of GAA experts were on hand to identify and select the managerial moments that stood out across both codes of the Championship and that deserved special recognition. The panel included former Dublin football manager Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey and former Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan.

The selection panel were impressed with Gavin’s decision to change the starting 15 for the All-Ireland Final replay and start Eoin Murchan in place of Michael Darragh MacAuley.

The young Na Fianna player put on a first class performance in defence against the Kingdom and scored a cracking goal within seconds of the second half which ultimately changed the game.

The managers that won the monthly award received a sports watch and as the overall winner, Gavin has won a scoreboard for his GAA club, Round Towers Clondalkin or a GAA club of his choice.

“Jim’s powerful leadership qualities and expert managerial tactics have played a huge role in the development of the players,” said Valerie Hedin, Head of Communications at EirGrid.

“This is evident from the skill and expertise they showed in the All-Ireland Final replay leading them to become the only team to have won five Senior Football Championships in a row.”

“This is the first year that EirGrid have looked to reward and celebrate the dedication, knowledge and energy that is required from the managers who help to shape the game. Through EirGrid’s timing partnership with the GAA, we have the opportunity to not only reward the manager for their actions and efforts but also give their club a prize that will really benefit the community.”