The Energia AIL brought down the curtain on a successful season last night with the Energia AIL Awards being given out in person in Dublin.
This 2021/22 season, clubs have reported a 15 per cent increase in attendance and the Energia AIL final on May 1st in the Aviva Stadium more than doubled its crowd record at the venue.
The Men’s Division 1A Player of the Year, Cormac Daly, starred with a hat-trick of tries in Clontarf’s bonus point victory over Dublin University and stunned Garryowen at a wet Dooradoyle, with a try after just 90 seconds.
Daly also won Player of the Match in the Energia AIL Division 1A final.
The Women’s Player of the Year, Aoife Doyle enjoyed a tremendous season, which included a fantastic brace of tries in Railway Union’s 43-8 bonus point win at Old Belvedere.
Doyle was just 18 when she made her Ireland debut against France in the 2015 Six Nations. She also played 7’s for several years and is now back playing XV’s regularly.
The Player of the Year awards were voted for by the Head Coaches and Directors of Rugby across the league.
The Moment of the Year was awarded to Stephen O’Neill o Terenure College RFC, for his rundown of a Garryowen player. It was a time in the game when Garryowen were on top and could seriously dent Terenure’s battle for the playoffs. O’Neill led by captain’s example winning a key turnover but unfortunately missed out on the playoffs himself due to injury.
Clubs from across Ireland were invited to nominate members or volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty and Conall Fitzpatrick from Waterpark RFC, was awarded the Community Hero Award.
The nominees for this award have provided years of service and have volunteered for the betterment of their club many times, at all levels and over a wide range of tasks on and off the pitch.
Seamus Lowry, Oughterard RFC, Richard Black, City of Armagh RFC, and Martina Fitzpatrick, Tallaght RFC were also shortlisted. The Moment of the Year and Community Hero awards were nominated by club members and supporters of the league.
Leinster flanker and Ukrainian native Alex Soroka and his brother Ivan Soroka, from Clontarf FC, won the prestigious Positive Energy Award for their fundraising for Ukraine. The Soroka family are raising funds for Okhmadits Children’s Hospital in Kyiv to help children affected by the war.
The ceremony also included a 15-minute panel discussion with Niamh Briggs, Richie Murphy, and John Fogarty. The panellists discussed the 2021/22 Energia AIL season while reflecting on the efforts of the U20 and Women’s teams in this year’s Six Nations Championships.
Each panellist also touched upon their respective individual experiences playing in the All Ireland League.
“Congratulations to all the winners and a huge thank you to all who attended Old Wesley to celebrate the 2021/22 season through the first physical Energia AIL Awards as title sponsor,” said Energia CEO Gary Ryan.
We have been blown away by the pure passion and support of the game this season and are delighted we could shine a light on the league’s 30-year legacy earlier this year too. We are looking forward to seeing all the players back on the field for what I’m sure will be another gripping Energia AIL season.”
“On behalf of the IRFU, I would like to extend a mighty congratulations to the winner of each award, and my thanks to all who attended this evening and donated to the Irish Heart Foundation,” added IRFU President Des Kavanagh.
Furthermore, my thanks to Energia for their support and promotion of the Energia All Ireland League as title sponsor. We look forward to continuing to work together over the coming years, and truly appreciate their efforts in delivering the Energia AIL Awards after a two-year Covid hiatus.”
This year’s awards were presented by The Club Scene Podcast host, Daragh Frawley, and celebrated the action both on and off the pitch highlighting some of the real skill, talent, and incredible rugby we have seen from the players this season.
Energia AIL Player of the Year Awards
Women’s Division Player Of The Division: Aoife Doyle, Railway Union
Men’s Division 1A Player Of The Division: Cormac Daly, Clontarf Rugby Club
Men’s Division 1B Player Of The Division: JJ O’Dea, Old Wesley
Men’s Division 2A Player Of The Division: David Whitten, Queen’s University
Men’s Division 2B Player Of The Division: Cathal Forde, Galway Corinthians
Men’s Division 2C Player Of The Division: Niall Parker, Enniscorthy
Energia AIL Coach of the Year Awards
Energia Men’s AIL Coach of the Year – Andy Wood, Clontarf Rugby Club
Energia Women’s AIL Coach of the Year – Ben Martin, Blackrock College
Energia Moment of the Season
Energia Men’s AIL Moment of the Season – Stephen O’Neill, Terenure College RFC
Energia Community Hero Award
Energia Community Hero Award – Conall Fitzpatrick, Waterpark RFC
Energia AIL Positive Energy Award
Energia AIL Positive Energia Award – Alex and Ivan Soroka, Clontarf Rugby Club
Energia AIL Club Scene Award
Club Scene Award – Terenure College RFC
Earlier this year, Energia celebrated 30 years of Club rugby’s premier competition and produced a captivating documentary featuring key contributors to the All Ireland League in Ireland, including the IRFU’s Colin McEntee and Amanda Greensmith, former and current Ireland players Gordon D’ Arcy, Keith Earls and Fiona Reidy, and league legends including John O’Mahony, father of Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony, and former President of Cork Constitution rugby club.
Sport for Business Perspective
It was special to be back celebrating a season in person and reflecting upon a year when the club scene came back to prominence, largely through the promotional efforts of a commited sponsor in Energia, using its marketing muscle to push the players and clubs back centre stage.
Sport for Business Partners
