Clann na nGael
Young Player of the Year - 2006
When the winner of our "Young Player of the Year" award surged to prominence on the national stage in 2006, it came as no surprise to followers of our club. For during his progression through the club's underage ranks, this player had excelled and helped Clann to numerous victories. Already, prior to this year, he had won under-12, under-14 (2), and under-16 county-titles, and had played in two All-Ireland Féile finals, winning on the second occasion in 2002. He had also helped Athlone Community College junior team to All-Ireland glory on two occasions.
In all of these victories our "Young Player of the Year" showed great skill, commitment and determination, qualities he again revealed to a much wider audience when playing a huge part, along with his club colleague, gallant team-captain David Flynn, in Roscommon minor team's all-conquering 2006 campaign. His great accuracy, both from general play and from frees, was a big factor in the team's success. When moved to midfield in the drawn All-Ireland, he helped curb the influence of the hitherto dominant Tommy Walsh and to give Roscommon the upper hand in this area. In the replay in Ennis he again helped to give Roscommon control of this vital sector. He also contributed tellingly on both occasions on the scoreboard, notching six points in each game. His influence in Roscommon's march to glory can be gauged by the fact that he was named "Man of the Match" in the Connacht final, the All-Ireland semi-final and the All-Ireland final replay.
Our "Young Player of the Year" also played a big part in the club's minor campaign, which saw the team reach the county-final, only to have victory unluckily snatched from them by Elphin in injury-time.
For his great displays as a member of the club's minor team, but particularly for his Herculean efforts, which helped to bring all-Ireland glory to Roscommon minors, our "Young Player of the Year" for 2006 is
Donal Shine (Jnr)
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