Clann na nGael
Senior Player of the Year - 2005
The year 2005 was a very disappointing one on the playing field. With the change of the senior Management mid year, the true character of the players came to the fore, but no more so, than this year’s senior player of the year. His ability to organise training, while the club reappointed a management team, meant the teams preparation was of very high standard.
This player came up through the underage ranks and in 1997 was captain of the minor team, beaten in the county final. As a consequence of his performance that year he won the 'Young Player of the Year' award in 1997. He also won sports person of the year in St. Aloysius College that year. To cap a fine year in 1997 he played in the forward line on the Junior B team that won the County Final.
He made his senior debut in 1998 and has been important member of the senior panel ever since.
But 2005 was the year he showed all his football skills - how to defend, go forward and lead on the pitch, as one of finest senior team captains Clann has had for a long time. In the relegation battle to maintain senior status for our senior team, he was an inspirational leader on the pitch throughout the game, and especially in the dying minutes.
The year gone by has brought him into the limelight, and he is now included in the county senior panel.
The worthy recipient of the Paddy Nicholson memorial Cup for the Clann na nGael senior Player of the Year award for 2005 is
Darragh Shine