EUGENE Branagan is one of seven Kilcoo players named in the AIB GAA Club Football Team of the Year.

Sleacht Néill duo Brendan Rogers and Cormac O’Doherty was also named on the Hurling Team of the Year.

It was the third time Rogers was chosen on the team.

Branagan, also named as Footballer of the Year, was instrumental at ensuring that the Down champions steady progress to All-Ireland glory.

His all-action style and ability to be in the right place at the right time made him an invaluable resource for the club football kingpins.

Dessie Hutchinson was named as the Hurler of the Year to cap off a fine season that ended with a stoppage time goal from Harry Ruddle.

“I sincerely congratulate Eugene and Dessie and all of the players who have been announced today,” commented Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy.

“The AIB GAA Club Championship is a gift that keeps giving. Every year, without fail, we are treated to great games and great stories of clubs producing heroics for the glory of the communities and the people they represent. Since this awards scheme was initiated in 2018 it has allowed us to pay tribute to the outstanding performers who made particularly memorable contributions.

“I look forward to another successful club championship being held in every county starting later this summer and I want to thank AIB for their long-standing support of these iconic competitions.”

STAR MAN…Brendan Rogers was named on the Hurling Team of the Year for a third time

After a hurling campaign that was dominated by the power plays of Ballygunner and Ballyhale Shamrocks, the Waterford and Kilkenny champions claim 12 of the overall team places between them.

Cormac O’Doherty and Brendan Rogers in recognition of their high calibre campaigns while St Thomas’s defensive lynch pin Fintan Burke lands a deserved award for the Galway champions.

In football, Kilcoo goalkeeper Niall Kane was the unanimous choice, and he is joined in defence by Ryan McEvoy, Micéal Rooney and Daryl Branagan, who picked up a second award after being chosen in 2020.

Eugene Branagan was a credible choice in a multitude of positions such was his roving role and influence, but he is named at left half forward and in doing so completes an impressive all-Kilcoo three quarter line with Ceilum Doherty and Jerome Johnston.

The teams were selected by a panel of national Gaelic games correspondents from across, print, broadcast and digital media.

AIB GAA CLUB PLAYER AWARDS – FOOTBALL 2022
1. Niall Kane (Kilcoo)
2. Sam Ryan (St Finbarr’s)
3. Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo)
4. Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes)
5. Micáal Rooney (Kilcoo)
6. Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
7. Daryl Branagan (Kilcoo)
8. Craig Dias (Kilmacud Crokes)
9. Niall Daly (Pádraig Pearse’s)
10. Ceilum Doherty (Kilcoo)
11. Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo)
12. Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo)
13. Dara Mullin (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)
15. Paul Carey (Pádraig Pearse’s)

AIB GAA CLUB FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR – Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo)

AIB GAA CLUB PLAYER AWARDS – HURLING 2022
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Ian Kenny (Ballygunner)
3. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
4. Fintan Burke (St Thomas’s)
5. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
6. Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
7. Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
8. Cormac O’Doherty (Sleacht Néill)
9. Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner)
10. Mikey Mahony (Ballygunner)
11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. Billy O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
13. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)
14. Brendan Rogers (Sleacht Néill)
15. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

AIB GAA CLUB HURLER OF THE YEAR – Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)