The WLR Granville Hotel GAA Awards are back for 2020 as hurling, football, camogie and ladies football returns to the Déise.
The first four monthly winners of the year, Calum Lyons, Áine Lyng, Maurice Shanahan and Dessie Hutchinson, collected their awards at the Granville Hotel last week while observing COVID-19 guidelines.
Three-time Déise All Star Ken McGrath and Waterford PRO Taylor Murray have joined the judging panel this season alongside Tomás McCarthy from WLR and the Waterford News & Star and Liam Cusack of the Granville Hotel.
2020 started like any other year.
Déise camogie star Beth Carton was crowned the Overall Winner of the WLR Granville Hotel GAA Awards for the second year in a row at a gala awards ceremony on January 11. The first player to achieve back to back.
The Waterford hurlers opened the National League brightly under new manager Liam Cahill as they qualified for the quarter finals. Benji Whelan’s footballers won on the road to Sligo, a new look ladies football side surprised Galway while Fergal O’Brien and Dan Shanahan enjoyed a good start with the Waterford camogie team.
At the beginning of March, Gaultier won the All Ireland Intermediate camogie title with a late, late show at Croke Park. Super sub Úna Jackman hit the top corner of the net in the fourth minute of injury time.
Then came the COVID-19 lockdown in mid-March which brought sport to a halt. GAA grounds reopened in June, after a three-month stoppage, and club action returned in July.
Déise hurler Calum Lyons has been recognised with his first monthly award for his performances in February. He was Waterford's Mr Consistency as Liam Cahill's side picked up league wins against Cork, Westmeath and Galway. The Ballyduff Lower defender was on the scoresheet at home to Galway and away to Limerick. Lyons also led his club to the Eastern Intermediate title in August, striking 1-7 in the final against Dunhill.
Áine Lyng was Captain Fantastic as she led the Gailltir camogie team up the steps of the Hogan Stand in March. The centre forward scored two first half points as the blue and navy defeated St Rynaghs in dramatic style in the All Ireland Intermediate Final at Croke Park. Lyng carried the All Ireland trophy over Rice Bridge in Waterford on Sunday night.
Maurice Shanahan picked up the July award. The Lismore ace was the number one marksman in the Waterford SHC with 3 goals and 44 points. The 2015 All Star shot 2-17 out of 2-22 in the first round win over Fourmilewater. He added 1-11 against Abbeyside as the black and amber reached the last four of the championship.
Ballygunner score getter Dessie Hutchinson is the August recipient, his second monthly award. The Gunners hitman finished the SHC with 6 goals and 23 points as he won his second county title. Hutchinson started the campaign with 2-5 against Tallow. He was lethal in the first half of the county semi final against Lismore with 2-7 from play. He also found the net against Fourmilewater and Passage as the Gunners completed seven in a row.
Waterford will take the field in championship action across all four codes this October. WLR will follow them every step of the way. Roll on the winter.
