Cian Lynch (Limerick), Paul Mannion (Dublin),Amy O’Connor (Cork) and Hannah Tyrell (Dublin) have been named as the winners of special PwC GAA/GPA Players of the Month – Finals Awards at an event in Dublin.
These Awards were additional to the Monthly Awards which have been presented throughout the Championship season and ahead of the Annual PwC All Star Awards which will take place later in the year.
A leader’s performance from Lynch helped edge Limerick into hurling history, singling them out as one of the most successful teams of all time as they clinched their fourth All-Ireland title in a row, and fifth from the last six.
Two pivotal scores from Lynch helped turn the tide against a determined Kilkenny outfit. With Declan Hannon injured for the final, Lynch stepped in as captain on the day and lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Mannion stood up to be counted in the heat of an epic All-Ireland Football final against Kerry, scoring five points, four of them from play.
The Kilmacud Crokes’ star was phenomenal from start to finish driving the Dubs to their thirty-first All-Ireland, and Mannion’s seventh. Having only just returned to the Dublin set-up this season, Mannion proved to be the tipping point the boys in blue needed to secure Sam Maguire.
A stunning display from Cork captain Amy O’Connor carried the Rebels to their twenty-ninth All-Ireland senior title as they came out on top in the Glen Dimplex All Ireland Senior Camogie Final against Waterford.
An unforgettable exhibition of scoring from O’Connor saw her come away with an outstanding 3-07, including a scarcely believable two-minute hat trick that puts her in the conversation of greatest ever All-Ireland final performances.
Hannah Tyrell produced a masterclass in forward play in this year’s TG$ All Ireland Ladies Football final.
She was unmarkable on the day with eight scores, four from play. The corner forward’s sensational display was a key part in Dublin lifting their sixth LGFA All-Ireland senior title as they proved too much for Kerry.
“On behalf of all of us at PwC I would like to give our congratulations to Cian, Paul, Hannah and Amy on being named the Player of the Month – Finals award winners,” said PwC Managing Partner Enda McDonogh.
“To perform at your highest level in the pressure cooker environment of an All-Ireland final weekend is an exceptional achievement. Their individual contributions to team success shows just how deserving our winners are of these accolades. At PwC we are immensely proud to partner with the GPA and the GAA to recognise and reward all players equally, and especially today to be able to acknowledge excellence across all codes in the most crucial games of the season.”
“The performances of all four awards winners were central to the success of their respective teams after what was a superb climax to the season for Gaelic games,” added GAA President.
“The contributions of Amy and Cian helped ensured the All-Ireland camogie and hurling titles went south to Munster while Paul and Hannah excelled in Dublin’s two finals against Kerry making it a year to remember for capital teams. Congratulations to all four winners and thanks to PwC for their continued support of these awards.”
“For our games to thrive young people have to have heroes to look up to and what better a quartet than these four players who gave commanding displays on the biggest stage of all,” concluded GPA CEO Tom Parsons.
The PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month and PwC GAA/GPA Players of the Month Award winners are voted for by the GPA’s membership.
