Shane Walsh (Galway) and Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick) have been named as the PwC GAA/GPA Players of the Month Awards winners in football and hurling respectively.
Katie Nolan (Kilkenny) and Niamh O’Sullivan (Meath) are winners of the PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month Awards for camogie and football.
Walsh gave a performance for the ages when he landed 0-9 as the Tribesmen came up just short against Kerry in the All-Ireland football final. His point-taking and leadership were exemplary, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Kingdom from lifting Sam Maguire.
Hegarty once again delivered for Limerick on the big day, blasting 1-5 in the Liam MacCarthy Cup decider win over Kilkenny. That took his total in finals to 3-14 as Limerick completed an All-Ireland three-in-a-row.
Niamh O’Sullivan delivered a brilliant display for Meath as the Royals defended their All-Ireland football title, beating Kerry in the final. Her second-half goal, part of a 1-2 tally, helped turn the tide as they recovered from a slow start to win.
Kilkenny edged Cork in a dramatic All-Ireland camogie decider, with Katie Nolan their star performer. She scored 0-5, three frees and two from play, as the Cats won 1-13 to 1-12 earlier this month, having scored 0-3 in the semi-final win over Galway in July.
PwC are proud sponsors of the Player of the Month Awards in football, both men’s and women’s, camogie and hurling. The winners are voted for by the GPA’s membership, with July and August taken as a single block on this occasion to ensure all four All-Ireland finals were covered in the same awards.
“To be named as Player of the Month in their respective codes is a huge achievement and honour and all of us at PwC are delighted to sincerely congratulate Katie, Niamh, Shane and Gearóid on their awards.,” said PwC Managing Partner Feargal O’Rourke.
“All-Ireland finals are the biggest stage that players in Gaelic Games aspire to and each of them delivered incredible individual performances while working as part of a team when the pressure was at its most intense. “
“It is a source of great pride for us at PwC that we partner in this awards scheme as it reflects our own values as a firm, acknowledging the skill, effort, dedication and determination of women and men equally.”
“Both individual and team performances soar in quality as the championships progress and this month’s PwC Player of the Month winners underline the excellence that we have come to expect in the latter stages of the season.,” added Larry McCarthy, President of the GAA.
Speaking on behalf of the GPA, CEO Tom Parsons said “Congratulations to our four winners whose performances more than merit this recognition. They were vital cogs in the wheel for their respective counties and should be proud to be rewarded in this way by their fellow players. “
