Players of the Year | Ballingarry AFC

The Player of the Year Award was introduced into the club at the end of season 1985/86. The winning player has been chosen in a number of ways down through the years but it is usually his fellow players that vote for the winner. On occasions the manager has chosen the winner while all adult members, be they players or not, have also at various times cast their votes. Whenever the club caters for a B team a separate award is presented to the winning player from that squad. As already mentioned the award was initiated in 1986 so unfortunately there was no award during the clubs’ inaugural season of 1984/85.

Crissie Danaher presenting the Mikey Danaher Perpetual Cup to Chairman Paschal Moynihan

Niall receives his award from Crissie Danaher

Rita and PJ Barrett sponsored the award from season 1985-86 to season 2009/10 at that point the Danaher family presented the club with the Mikey Danaher Perpetual Cup which was to be presented to the A team player of the year. Niall Cahill became the first winner of the award at the end of season 2010/11.

1985/86 – Noel Forde (Division 3)

Noel Forde The first ever winner of the Player of the Year award during a season when Ballingarry won their first ever trophy. Made 31 appearances scoring 1 goal with the vast majority of his games being played at left full back.

1986/87 – John Murphy (Division 2)

John Murphy Made 24 appearances at centre half for the side in the second division.

1987/88 – Liam Fitzgerald (Division 2)

Liam Fitzgerald Made 17 appearances at centre half for the team that gained promotion to the first division.

1988/89 – Pat Burke (Division 1)

Pat Burke A left winger that made 29 appearances in all competitions scoring 10 goals as Ballingarry reached both the FAI Junior Cup and Munster Junior Cup area finals winning the latter.

1989/90 – Noel Hayes (Division 1)

Noel Hayes The first of two awards that Hayes would win during his time with the club. This award was for his performances in goal during his 28 games that season.

1989/90 – Pa O’Shea (Division 3 B Team)

Pa O'Shea The first winner of the B Team award playing 30 games in total at left full in the third division.

1990/91 – James Higgins (Division 1)

James Higgins Played 21 games all at centre half. He would win the award again to add to the Desmond Youth player of the year award that he won in 1984.

1990/91 – Anthony Brosnan (Div. 3 B Team)

Anthony Brosnan Played 20 games for the B Team at left back and also made his A Team debut.

1991/92 – Noel Hayes (Division 1)

Noel Hayes The first player to win the award twice when he took the prize in 91/92. However on this occasion it was for his show at left back compared to the first time he won it when he was in goal.

1991/92 – William Brosnan (Div. 3 B Team)

William Brosnan Played 23 games at left full back for the B Team. With his brother Anthony became the first set of brothers to win a player of the year award. As the team was disbanded the following year he remains the last player to win this particular award.

1992/93 – Padraig Kiely (Division 1)

Padraig Kiely Played 23 games for the club winning the award in what was virtually his first season having played just once for the club the previous season.

1993/94 – Padraig Kiely (New Division 1)

Padraig Kiely The first player to win the award back to back when he played 24 games and scored 2 goals in the newly named Division 1 in the promotion winning side. Became first player to win award in two different divisions.

Note: Ballingarry were relegated from the 1st Division to the 2nd Division during season 1992/93 However the league changed the name of the divisions for the start of season 1993/94 with the 1st division becoming the Premier Division and the 2nd Division becoming the 1st Division etc.

1994/95 – Mike Quaid (Premier Division)

Mike Quaid Right full back who made 18 appearances for team back in top flight football.

1995/96 – Timmy O’Connell (Premier Div.)

Timmy receives his player of the year award from Club Chairman Benjy Kelly

Made 23 appearances scoring three goals from midfield for side which failed to avoid relegation.

1996/97 – Ger O’ Connor (Division 1)

Ger O'Connor Only the second goalkeeper to receive the award up to that point. Made a total of 25 appearances for the side during their first season back in the first division.

1997/98 – James Higgins (Division 1)

James Higgins receives his player of the year award from Benjy Kelly

The centre half made 21 appearances during a season when he also broke the 300 appearance mark. He would receive his second award, just the third Ballingarry AFC player to do so.

1998/99 – Michael Corrigan (Division 1)

Michael receives his player of the year award from Benjy Kelly

Made 20 appearances at left back during his second season with the club.

1999/2000 – John Cronin (Division 1)

John Cronin receives his player of the year award from Benjy Kelly

The utility player made 27 appearances scoring 2 goals.

2000/01 – Colm Kiely (Division 1)

Colm Kiely Made 26 appearances at sweeper. Joined brother Padraig to become the first brothers to win the main team award.

2001/02 – Patrick Kenrick (Division 1)

Patrick Kenrick receives his player of the year award from Moss Doody

Ballingarry won the Desmond cup for the first time, goalkeeper Patrick Kenrick won the player of the year award for the first time. He played 24 games and scored 4 goals including the first in the cup final.

2002/03 – Niall Condron (Division 1)

Niall Condron Played 24 games at mid field scoring 2 goals as Ballingarry won the first division title.

2003/04 – Aidan Barrett (Premier Division)

Aidan Barrett Played 28 games and scored 6 goals at centre half during Ballingarrys’ greatest season as they won the Premier Division championship for the first time.

2004/05 – Colm Kiely (Premier Division)

Colm Kiely Played 32 games in total again at sweeper. Like his brother Padraig before him won the award from two different divisions.

2005/06 – John O’Grady (Premier Division)

John O'Grady receives his player of the year award

Was drafted into goals after sudden departure of Patrick Kenrick and played 19 games, the vast majority in goal. It was for his showing between the posts that he received the award.

2006/07 – Francis Kiely (Premier Division)

Francis Kiely receives his player of the year award for season 2006/07 from Club President Moss Doody.

Played in 24 of the 29 games played by the club in the Premier Divison, mainly in midfield and scored just one goal.

That one strike was in the Desmond Cup final replay win against NCW Rovers. He becomes the 3rd member of the Kiely family to win the award.

2007/08 – Denis Kelly (Division 1)

Denis Kelly receives his player of the year award for season 2007/08

Played in 24 of the 26 games player over the season, scoring 19 goals from open play for the Division 1 League & Cup double winners.

The striker was also voted LDFL Divison 1 Player of the Year, a first for the club, whileone of his goals came in the Division 1 League Cup final against Rathkeale B, during which he was also voted man of the match.

2008/09 – Darragh O’Grady (Premier Division)

Darragh O'Grady Captain of the Junior A team that finished down the table and appeared in 25 of the teams 28 competitive fixtures. Operated mainly at right back but filled in at midfield as required. Scored 4 league goals and 1 in the Munster Junior Cup.

2008/09 – Brian Fitzgerald – B Team (Division 3)

Brian accepts his award from PJ Hogan of the LDFL

Made 20 appearances in a 21 game season during which he captained the B team to the Division 3 title. Follows in his dads footsteps in winning a Player of the Year award when Liam did so in season 88/89. Played the vast majority of his games at centre half and scored 3 league goals and 1 Desmond cup goal.

2009/10 – Rory Alymer (Premier Division)

Rory receives his award from Club President Moss Doody

A highly productive season saw the centre forward score 10 goals, nine in the league from the 21 games he featured in during a 24 game programme.

2009/10 – Patrick Keating – B Team (Division 2)

Patrick receives his award from Club President Moss Doody

Played most of his 19 games at mid-field from which he scored two goals. This during a 24 game campaign.

2010/11 – Niall Cahill (Division 1)

Played at right full for the vast majority of the teams 28 games, making 20 appearances and scoring his first goal for the club as the team completed the Division 1 league and cup double in a season they went unbeaten in league

2010/11 – Barry Fitzgerald – B Team (Division 3)

Played 17 of the B teams 22 games as they avoided relegation scoring one goal

2011/12 – Brian Fitzgerald (Premier Division)

Became the first player in the clubs history to add the A team award to the B team award that he won in 2008/09 and joins his father Liam as the first father and son to win the award. A towering centre half who leads by example he missed just two of the 27 games the team played getting 2 goals.

2012/13 – Micheal Clancy (Premier Division)

The left full back played in 22 of the 33 games the team contested including both the Desmond cup final and replay.

2012/13 – David O’Hanlon – B Team (Division 3)

The centre forward and captain featured in 14 of the 19 games for the B team and weighed in with 8 goals.

2013/14 – Francis Kiely (Premier Division)

Francis Kiely receives award from John Clancy

Francis joins brothers Colm and Padraig as two time winners of the award.

The midfielder played 27 time during the season and was also the clubs top scorer with 19 goals.

2013/14 – Daven Meehan – B Team (Division 3)

The combative midfielder featured in 13 of the 19 games the team played scoring one goal

2014/15 – Francis Kiely (Premier Division)

Francis Kiely receives award from John Cronin

Became the first player in the clubs history to win the award three times. Played 27 times for the club during the season scoring 14 goals.

2014/15 – Daire Rankin-Hehir – B Team (Division 3)

Won the award during his debut season the winger played 18 times for the B team scoring 2 goals and 6 times for the A team.

2015/16 – Niall Cahill (Premier Division)

Niall Cahill A Team Player of the Year 2015-16

The second time winner of the award featured in 24 of the 30 games played by the A team scoring one goal.

2015/16 – David O’Hanlon – B Team (Division 3)

David O'Hanlon B Team Player of the Year 2015-16

Winning the B award for the second time he played 16 times for the team and finished their top scorer with 12 goals.

2016/17 – Niall Cahill (Premier Division)

Niall Cahill A Team Player of the Year 2016-17

Missed just two of the 28 games played and scored once as he collected the award for the third time.

2017/18 – Dean Clancy (Premier Division)

Dean Clancy A Team Player of the Year 2017-18

The attacking midfielder played in 22 of the 26 games played by the team scoring 5 goals.

2017/18 – John O’Grady – B Team (Division 3)

John O'Grady B Team Player of the Year 2017-18

Played 11 games in total from a 15 game programme scoring 2 goals. He had already won the A team award in 05/06.

2018/19 – Josh O’Connor – A Team (Premier Division)

The combative midfielder appeared in 18 of the clubs 23 fixtures and
follows in his late fathers footsteps (Ger) who won the award in 1996/97.

2021/22 – Adam Long – A Team (Premier Division)

Adam Long A Team Player of the Year 2021-22

Playing in just his 4th season Adam operated mostly at centerback for the majority of the season, with the odd appearance at right or left back. His pace and ability to read the game makes him invaluable asset to the team.

Played 17 games in 2021/22 season

2021/22 – Luke Hayes – B Team (Division 2)

Luke Hayes
Playing in just his 1st season Luke progressed from our successful youth team. Operated mostly at left wing, player 16 games and scored twice.

2022/23 – Dean Clancy – A Team (Premier Division)

Dean Clancy
A popular choice of player of the year that doesn’t hide his commitment and passion for his club. Excellent ball player always finds his pass and a good eye goal. Played 22 of the 25 games in the 22/23 season the majority of which at left full scoring 6 goals

2022/23 – Nathan Kirrane – B Team (Division 2)

Nathan Kirrane B team Player of the Year 2022-23

Nathan in his maiden season having previously plyer with Croom utd made his debut on 21/11/2022 vs Knockderry. Played 12 of the 23 games in the 22/23 season alternating between centre back and centre midfield and chipped in with 2 goals.