Kidney deflects praise to workmates

Manager of the Year award:In his typically self-effacing manner, Munster coach Declan Kidney deflected the praise heaped upon him immediately after being named the Philips Manager of the Year for 2006.

Despite the impressive achievements of the other monthly award winners, Kidney was surely a unanimous selection after guiding Munster to a historic first Heineken European Cup in his first season back in the province after spells as Irish assistant and Leinster coach.

Kidney won twice - in April and May - first as recognition for Munster's progress to a third final since 2000, including a memorable semi-final victory over Leinster at Lansdowne Road. Then in May, the province overcame Biarritz in an epic encounter at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"I feel like a fraud really," said Kidney in conversation with compere Des Cahill. "I'd like to accept this on behalf of all the people I work with. Brian O'Brien (former Irish and Munster manager) once said you are only as successful as the people you work with want you to be. The players deserve the credit. It's always good to work with good players. It helps."

As ever, Kidney put the whole achievement into perspective with a reality check when asked to describe the sheer magnitude of the Leinster v Munster semi-final last April. "I met Dave Fagan (Leinster strength coach) about 10 minutes before the match and said 'what the hell have we got ourselves into?' He replied that it was only a game, friendship lasts for life."

Cahill asked whether he felt joy or relief at the full-time whistle in Cardiff. Kidney replied with a smile: "Yes."

It being the 25th anniversary of the Philips awards all the previous winners were invited to the event in Dublin's Berkeley Court hotel. The inaugural winner in 1982 was Kilkenny hurling manager Pat Henderson, who was present, but three-time winner Jack Charlton (1987-89) was unable to attend.

A noticeable trait of the award winners was the strong Cork contingent with seven of the monthly awards going to the Rebel County natives. Also, UCC Demons coach Pat Price was recognised for the club's national basketball cup victory in February, while Derval O'Rourke's coach Jim Kilty shared the March award with Irish rugby coach Eddie O'Sullivan. Kerry football manager Jack O'Connor and Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody were recognised for the month of September, after both overcame Cork teams en route to the All-Ireland title. As did St Gall's manager John Rafferty after the Belfast club reached the All-Ireland football final at the expense of Cork champions Nemo Rangers.