Kilcoo's Eugene Branagan and Ballygunner’s Dessie Hutchinson have been named the AIB GAA Club Footballer and Hurler of the year respectively, with both clubs also to the fore in the Team of the Year selections for 2021-22.
The full football and hurling team lists show seven players each from Kilcoo and Ballygunner in a campaign where both clubs achieved maiden All-Ireland successes following dramatic victories over Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Branagan excelled in a number of positions for the Down champions, while Hutchinson's pace and eye for a score was key in delivering a first All-Ireland title for a Waterford club.
In football, Kilcoo goalkeeper Niall Kane was the unanimous choice, and he is joined in defence by Ryan McEvoy, Miceal Rooney and Daryl Branagan.
Eugene Branagan was a credible choice in a multitude of positions such was his roving role and influence, but he is named at left half-forward and in doing so completes an all-Kilcoo three-quarter line with Ceilum Doherty and Jerome Johnston.
Veteran Kilmacud Crokes star Rory O’Carroll is named at No 6 and is joined by three more colleagues from the Stillorgan club in the versatile Dan O’Brien, Craig Dias and Dara Mullin.
Cork and Munster champions St Finbarr’s have had their march to the All-Ireland semi-finals recognised in awards for Sam Ryan in the full-back line and in full-forward Steven Sherlock.
Roscommon and Connacht kingpins Padraig Pearse’s are represented by midfielder Niall Daly and forward Paul Carey.
Ballygunner and Ballyhale Shamrocks claim 12 of the overall hurling team places between them. Stephen O’Keeffe is again selected between the posts.
Ian Kenny and Philip Mahony are rewarded with places in defence, Paddy Leavey’s work rate is acknowledged in midfield and the threat posed by Hutchinson, Mikey Mahony and Billy O’Keeffe is also celebrated.
Denied in a dramatic finale, Ballyhale are represented by full-back Joey Holden, centre-back Richie Reid and wing-back Darragh Corcoran, while TJ Reid is named at centre-forward and Eoin Cody completes the full-forward line.
The final 15 is completed by awards for Slaughtneil duo Cormac O'Doherty in midfield and full-forward Brendan Rogers while St Thomas’s defender Fintan Burke lands an award for the Galway champions.
The teams were selected by a panel of national Gaelic games correspondents from across print, broadcast and digital media.
FOOTBALL TEAM
1 Niall Kane (Kilcoo)
2 Sam Ryan (St Finbarr's)
3 Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo)
4 Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes)
5 Miceal Rooney (Kilcoo)
6 Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
7 Daryl Branagan (Kilcoo) *Previous winner in 2020
8 Craig Dias (Kilmacud Crokes)
9 Niall Daly (Pádraig Pearse’s)
10 Ceilum Doherty (Kilcoo)
11 Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo)
12 Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo)
13 Dara Mullin (Kilmacud Crokes)
14 Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)
15 Paul Carey (Pádraig Pearse’s)
Footballer of the Year – Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo)
HURLING TEAM
1 Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2019
2 Ian Kenny (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2019
3 Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks) *Previous winner in 2019 & 2020
4 Fintan Burke (St Thomas’s) *Previous winner in 2019
5 Philip Mahony (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2018 & 2019
6 Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
7 Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
8 Cormac O’Doherty (Slaughtneil)
9 Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner)
10 Mikey Mahony (Ballygunner)
11 TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks) *Previous winner in 2019 & 2020
12 Billy O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
13 Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner) *Previous winner in 2020
14 Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil) *Previous winner in 2018 & 2020
15 Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks) *Previous winner in 2019
Hurler of the Year – Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)
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