Ballygunner’s Dessie Hutchinson has been officially announced as the AIB GAA Club Hurler of the year.
Hutchinson’s sensational form since his return to hurling lit up the club championship once again and live wire attacker so often proved unmarkable.
The 25-year-old corner-forward previously was named on the 2020 team of the year in Club Player Awards.
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.
It is Ballygunner who edged the votes with Stephen O’Keeffe again selected as the best club hurling goalkeeper. Ian Kenny and Philip Mahony are rewarded with places in defence, Paddy Leavey’s work rate has been acknowledged in midfield and the threat posed by Hutchinson, Mikey Mahony and Billy O’Keeffe are also celebrated.
AIB GAA CLUB PLAYER AWARDS - HURLING 2022
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2019
2. Ian Kenny (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2019
3. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks) *Previous winner in 2019 & 2020
4. Fintan Burke (St Thomas’s) *Previous winner in 2019
5. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2018 & 2019
6. Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
7. Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
8. Cormac O’Doherty (Slaughtneil)
9. Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner)
10. Mikey Mahony (Ballygunner)
11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks) *Previous winner in 2019 & 2020
12. Billy O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
13. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2020
14. Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil) *Previous winner in 2018 & 2020
15. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks) *Previous winner in 2019
Elsewhere in Football, Kilcoo dynamo Eugene Branagan was awarded AIB GAA Club Footballer of the year after he helped his side reach All Ireland glory.
The overall players of the year were presented with their awards by Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy who said: “I sincerely congratulate Eugene and Dessie and all of the players who have been announced today.
“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.”
