The Cork Constitution lock Conor Kindregan was last night named the Division 1A Player of the Year at the Ulster Bank League’s fourth annual awards in the Aviva Stadium. The 24-year-old from Galway was presented with his award by Irish coach Joe Schmidt in recognition of his excellent season which resulted in him being chosen by a panel of judges ahead of Young Munster’s Ger Slattery and Clontarf’s Mick McGrath.
McGrath was nonetheless one of three winners on the night from the newly crowned Ulster Bank League champions Clontarf, as the winger scooped the Division 1A leading try scorer award for the third time in four seasons, having also led the way in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns.
Not surprisingly, Clontarf’s highly rated, 20-year-old out-half Joey Carbery was named the Division 1A ‘Rising Star of the Year’ ahead of UCD’s Peadar Timmins and Young Munster’s Gearoid Lyons, after his outstanding performances in their semi-final and final wins over UCD and Cork Con.
Clontarf’s head coach, Andy Wood, was named Coach of the Year in Division 1A ahead of David Corkery (Young Munster) and Noel McNamara (UCD).
Scott Deasy of Lansdowne finished the season with the most points to become ‘Division 1A Top Points Scorer’.
Trinity’s Angus Lloyd won the Division 1B player of the year after helping his side win promotion, with Charlie O’Regan of UCC winning ‘Division 2A Player of the Year’, Paddy O’Toole of Highfield winning the ‘Division 2B Player of the Year Award’ and Brendan Guilfoyle of Old Crescent winning ‘Division 2C Player of the Year’. This year’s ‘PRO of the Year Award’ went to the Banbridge duo of Robin McGloughin and Marc Eadie.
Full awards list
1. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 1A: Conor Kindregan, Cork Con RFC, Cork
2. Ulster Bank Top Try Scorer - Division 1A: Mick McGrath, Clontarf RFC, Dublin
3. Ulster Bank Top Points Scorer - Division 1A: Scott Deasy, Lansdowne RFC, Dublin
4. Ulster Bank Young player of the Year Award - Division 1A: Joey Carbery, Clontarf RFC, Dublin
5. Ulster Bank Coach of the Year - Division 1A: Andy Woods, Clontarf RFC, Dublin
6. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 1B: Angus Lloyd, Trinity RFC, Dublin
7. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 2A: Charlie O’Regan, UCC RFC, Cork
8. Ulster Player of the Year - Division 2B: Paddy O’Toole, Highfield RFC, Cork
9. Ulster Player of the Year - Division 2C: Brendan Guilfoyle, Old Cresent RFC, Limerick
10. Ulster Bank Club PRO (Public Relations Officer) of the Year: Robin McGloughlin & Marc Eadie, Banbridge RFC, Down
11. Ulster Bank Provincial Player of the Year - voted by the public through Ulster Bank Rugby Social Media: Robin
* Connacht Player of the Year: Stephen Kerins, Sligo RFC
* Leinster Player of the Year: Brian McKeever, Navan RFC
* Munster Player of the Year: Sean Duggan, Young Munster RFC
* Ulster Player of the Year: Aaron Cairns, Ballynahinch RFC
