O'Sullivan's leadership qualities saluted

Manager Of The Year AwardEddie O'Sullivan yesterday became the first Irish rugby coach to be named Philips manager of the year since the late Mick Doyle was honoured in 1985.

The Galway native is the also first to deliver the Triple Crown since Doyle 19 years ago and can take credit for Ireland's progression as a genuine force in world rugby over the last 12 months.

The Six Nations started rather disappointingly with defeat in Paris - although Ireland did rally well in the final quarter - before a memorable win over England in Twickenham, the first away victory over the old enemy since 1994.

Comfortable winning margins followed over Wales and Italy, before the crown was completed with a comprehensive victory over Scotland at Lansdowne Road last March.

O'Sullivan's stamp on the current Irish team became apparent after he made Brian O'Driscoll, and in his absence Paul O'Connell, captain while also moving the revelation that is Gordon D'Arcy to centre.

It also caps off a memorable year for Irish rugby after O'Sullivan guided the team through the autumn series unbeaten, including victory over South Africa for the first time in 40 years.

O'Sullivan paid tribute to Philips, who honoured him with a monthly award 11 years ago when he was a club manager with Blackrock College, the season the team finished second in the All-Ireland League Division One.

"At the time, it was a great boast to my confidence as I was deciding whether to stay in professional sport or go back teaching," said O'Sullivan.

The award for the Irish rugby coach is also a poignant moment considering Doyle passed away earlier this year.

"Mick was a huge loss. He always had an impact on the game, whether as a player, a coach or a pundit and we all enjoyed Mick at every level of the game," O'Sullivan said.

"It is 1985 since Mick won the award, but that is a testament to the other sports and managers who have won the manager of the year. But it is nice that rugby is on the up at the moment and a chance to recognise that."

O'Sullivan saw off some strong challenges in Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon, a double recipient of the monthly award, after he brought the club to the very brink of qualification to the Champions League proper, while also retaining the league title.

Kerry football manager Jack O'Connor and Cork hurling manager Donal O'Grady shared the award for September and both easily could have taken the top prize.

The remarkable feat of Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew getting Fermanagh to the All-Ireland semi-final, before losing to Mayo, in a replay, also deserves a mention, despite the fact that he didn't collect a monthly award.

And due to Westmeath's first Leinster football title, Páidí Ó Sé was honoured for the month of July, with Waterford manager Justin McCarthy picking up the June prize after his hurlers won the Munster championship.

The awards were dominated by rugby. Former Ulster coach Alan Solomons took December (2003), Alan Gaffney was the January winner and Shannon coach Geoff Moylan was feted for winning the AIL final in May.

Other monthly winners were Martin O'Neill - recognised for Celtic achievement in claiming the Scottish League title last April - and Longford Town manager Alan Mathews, who led his team to the FAI Cup in October.

All the winners were present with the exception of O'Neill (his award was collected by Celtic assistant coach Tommy Burns) and Alan Gaffney, who was unable to attend due to Munster's European commitments.

MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS

December - Alan Solomons (Ulster, rugby). January - Alan Gaffney (Munster, rugby). February - Pat Price (UCC Demons, basketball). March - Eddie O'Sullivan (Ireland, rugby). April - Martin O'Neill (Celtic, soccer). May - Geoff Moylan (Shannon, rugby). June - Justin McCarthy (Waterford, hurling). July - Páidí Ó Sé (Westmeath, football). August - Pat Fenlon (Shelbourne, soccer). September - Donal O'Grady, (Cork, hurling); Jack O'Connor, (Kerry, football). October - Alan Mathews (Longford, soccer). November - Pat Fenlon (Shelbourne, soccer).