WATERFORD’S STEPHEN BENNETT has been named Bord Gáis Energy Player of the Year, overcoming strong competition from teammates Austin Gleeson and Patrick Curran in the process.
Bennett is the first player from Waterford to receive the accolade since the awards began in 2013, following in the footsteps of Limerick’s Richie English, who won last year.
Meanwhile, Meath’s Gavin McGowan claimed the Player of the Year award for the ‘B’ championship after a display that saw him named man of the match in the final against Mayo.
Bord Gáis Energy Sports Ambassador Ger Cunningham paid tribute to the duo following the news, saying: “It’s becoming more and more difficult to single out one individual as Bord Gáis Energy Player of the Year given the standard of performances we’re seeing. The three nominees for the ‘A’ award all deserved serious consideration and it was a very tough choice.
“However, as a judging panel, we felt that Stephen’s consistent performances, embellished by some absolutely breath-taking moments of skill, meant he just pipped his fellow Waterford men to the post.
“Gavin was Meath’s star performer in the ‘B’ final. He was one of the key reasons that they overcame Mayo and made up for last year’s final defeat. He’s thoroughly deserving of the award.”
Bennett also claimed the Score of the Year accolade for his goal against Galway in the All-Ireland final, with the effort enhanced by a terrific ‘no-look’ pass from Patrick Curran in the build up.
The awards in full were as follows…
Bord Gáis Energy U-21 Player of the Year
Stephen Bennett (Waterford)
Bord Gáis Energy U-21 ‘B’ Player of the Year
Gavin McGowan (Meath)
Bord Gáis Energy Score of the Year
Patrick Curran/Stephen Bennett All-Ireland Final Waterford v Galway
2016 Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year
1. Jordan Henley (Waterford)
2. Conor Gleeson (Waterford)
3. Eoghan O’Donnell (Dublin)
4. Darragh Lyons (Waterford)
5. Michéal Harney (Waterford)
6. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
7. Shane Barrett (Dublin)
8. Dan Nevin (Galway)
9. Ronan Lynch (Limerick)
10. Shane Bennett (Waterford)
11. Brian Molloy (Galway)
12. Andrew Coffey (Tipperary)
13. Patrick Curran (Waterford)
14. Stephen Bennett (Waterford)
15. Niall Mitchell (Westmeath)
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gleeson was unreal Munster 21 final . Bennet was unreal every game through 21s championship
Couldn’t agree more. Nobody disagrees that Gleeson is the best hurley in Waterford and potentially in Ireland and his performances at senior level make abundantly clear. But at minor this year, Bennett, Curran, and Gleeson were all fantastic. In particular Bennett for me was sensational. All the eyes are on Gleeson to see what he does but some of the stuff Bennett did in the minors this year was outrageous. (he pulled three pieces of individual brilliance that set up two goals and he scored the third.) A quality player, well deserved.
How Austin Gleaston didn’t get this is beyond me!
Gleeson