Waterford camogie stars Mairead O’Brien and Lorraine Bray are the June and July winners of the WLR / Granville Hotel Monthly GAA Awards.
Both players starred in Waterford’s thrilling journey to a first All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final in 78 years.
20-year-old O’Brien is the winner of the June award. The Modeligo native has been one of the shining lights of the Waterford squad in recent seasons, scoring 3-3 as the Deise topped their group before moving on to the All-Ireland Semi-Finals.
The University of Limerick Student was delighted to win her first monthly award.
“We had a great year - I suppose things didn’t go right for us in the finish, but we made great progress. We are back to the top division in the league and got to the All-Ireland, so the next step for us is to get back there and hopefully win it. I was proud and a bit shocked when I got the call to say I had won but it’s lovely to get an achievement as well - to bring something back to the club Modeligo, I’m delighted.”
Captain Lorraine Bray once again led by example in July, driving the troops on from seven points down against Tipperary to turn it around and reach the All-Ireland Final on a famous day in Nowlan Park.
This is Lorraine’s third monthly award, with the Cappoquin star having been a permanent fixture in all Deise successes at various levels since first coming onto the county squad.
Deise boss Sean Power said:
“These awards couldn’t go to two better players. They are incredible ambassadors for their sport and their clubs, and I’m delighted for the two of them. They were central to everything we’ve done right this year - getting to an All-Ireland Final. They both thoroughly deserve it. We will learn from this year and these players will be right there again next season.”
