Waterford's GAA stars gathered in The Granville Hotel on Saturday, January 13th, for the annual WLR/Granville Hotel GAA Awards.
The monthly winners from camogie, hurling and football teams across the city and county were presented with their monthly awards, as well as the winner of The Kevin Casey Emerging Young Player award and the overall award winner.
The monthly winners included Lauren McGregor, Michael Kiely, Beth Carton, Megan Dunford, Mark Fitzgerald, Mairead O’Brien, Lorraine Bray, Gavin O’Brien, Peter Hogan, Kelly Ann Hogan, Conor Murray, Brid McMaugh and Stephen O’Keeffe.
The judging panel of Tomás McCarthy, Liam Cusack, Taylor Murray and Dan Shanahan chose Beth Carton and Stephen O’Keeffe as the joint overall WLR/Granville Hotel GAA award winners for 2023.
It was an incredible year for Waterford camogie and De La Salle star Beth Carton, who played a pivotal role throughout as the Deise made it to a first All-Ireland final in 78 years.
She hit 2-56 in Division 1B of the National League en-route to silverware, and was named Player of the Match in the league final victory over Wexford at Semple Stadium, notching eight points in the decider.
Carton and her teammates then saw off Antrim, Limerick and Offaly in the All-Ireland group stages, before a famous victory against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final at Nowlan Park, in which Beth contributed 0-8.
With 6 goals and 121 points across the course of a stellar individual campaign, Beth was named Camogie Player of the Year at the PwC All Star Awards in November, confirming her status as the best camogie player in the country for 2023.
It was also a successful year for Carton and her teammates at club level, as she helped De La Salle to win a second consecutive Waterford Senior Camogie Championship, seeing off old adversaries Gailltir in the decider.
Stephen O’Keeffe was instrumental once again in another history-making campaign for Ballygunner. The renowned shotstopper was at the peak of his powers throughout 2023, as the Gunners ripped up the record books at county and provincial level.
O’Keeffe conceded just two goals in this year’s Waterford Senior Hurling Championship, as his side saw off De La Salle to create history and become the first side ever to win ten consecutive Waterford senior crowns. O’Keeffe and his teammates are also 55 games unbeaten and counting at county level.
Ballygunner also entered 2023 with the added incentive of potentially becoming the first club side ever to win three consecutive Munster senior hurling titles.
Their provincial campaign began with a comprehensive victory over Sarsfields of Cork, before Stephen starred in a hard-fought win against Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh, making a number of stellar saves.
The Waterford champions ultimately went on to etch their names into the record books, as they saw off Clonlara of Clare with 13 points to spare in the provincial decider - handing Stephen his fourth Munster senior club medal.
Gailltir’s Laoise Forrest was awarded The Kevin Casey Emerging Young Player award. 2023 was a year to remember for Laoise as the Gailltir defender lined out in the All-Ireland minor and senior camogie finals.
Laoise was selected at centre back on the minor team of the year. The joint captain netted a late goal in the All-Ireland Final defeat to Cork. Laoise also broke onto the senior team this season as Waterford reached their first final since 1945.
On the club scene, she won a county intermediate football title and a county minor camogie medal.
The awards were hosted by WLR's Damien Tiernan and Nigel Kelly, and those in attendance on the night included the Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Joe Conway, former Wexford All-Ireland winning captain Martin Storey, and the family and friends of the award nominees.
