Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) and Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry) win
Opel GPA Player of the Month Awards for September 2009
Opel GPA Teams of the Year and Players of the Year Gala Awards Night
To take place on Friday, 6th November, City West Hotel, Dublin
Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) and Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry) were today named as the Opel GPA Players of the Month for September 2009 in hurling and football respectively.
The awards recognise the outstanding contribution both players made to their county's performances in last month's All-Ireland finals. The Opel GPA Awards will culminate in a Gala Evening on Friday, 6th November in the City West Hotel, Dublin when the Opel GPA Hurling and Football Teams of the Year are presented with their Awards on stage and the Opel GPA Hurler and Footballer of the Year are chosen on the night.
Hurling player of the month, Kilkenny wing-back Tommy Walsh, was recognised for his exceptional performance in helping his side to their fourth All-Ireland title in a row. In football, Tomás Ó Sé, one of the country's most consistent performers, gave an outstanding display in last month's football final victory over Cork as Kerry landed their fifth All-Ireland of the decade.
Chairman of the Opel/GPA Hurling Selection Committee Dónal O'Grady said: "Tommy Walsh's dynamic consistency is a central part of the Kilkenny machine. Once again in the intense pressure of the All-Ireland final, he was an outstanding presence for Kilkenny displaying the skills, anticipation and commitment for which he is renowned. An outstanding hurler and competitor and a manager's dream, his final performance last month has now been acknowledged by his fellow players."
Chairman of the Opel/GPA Football Selection Committee, Martin McHugh, described Tomás Ó Sé as: "Perhaps the country's most consistent defender of the past decade," and said his performance against Cork was one that could be shown as an example to all young defenders. "On All-Ireland final day, Tomás once again showed that he was a man for the big occasion. Apart from doing his primary job of keeping his immediate marker under wraps, he was repeatedly on hand to pick up the breaks around the midfield area and also galloped forward at every opportunity - kicking two tremendous points," reflected McHugh. "His value to this Kerry team cannot be understated. His skill level is very high, his distribution is excellent and despite so many years at the top, his incredible appetite for the game shows no sign of relenting. The word 'class' is rarely used when it comes to describing defenders, but it is the word which probably best sums up Tomás."
GPA Chief Dessie Farrell added: "Congratulations to Tommy and Tomás for their outstanding performances in the All-Ireland finals. I've no doubt it was a tough choice for players to make and both Tommy and Tomás will be the first to point to the contributions of their team mates in securing the ultimate prizes this season. The Kilkenny and Kerry squads are a testimony to the dedication and commitment of our amateur athletes and their repeated success is a fitting reward for the standards both panels have set themselves this decade. Thanks to Opel for their support and to all the players who voted for the September nominees."
Aislinn Connolly of Opel Ireland said: "Opel Ireland congratulates Tommy and Tomás on winning the Opel GPA Player of the Month Awards for September 2009. Both players picked up All-Ireland senior medals in two exciting finals last month where they each demonstrated the key part they played in their teams victories. It is no coincidence therefore that they have been selected for the September award.
"We're also very much looking forward to hearing who will be announced as the Hurler and Football of the Year, as chosen by the players themselves, at the Opel GPA Gala night in City West Hotel on Friday, 6th November," Aislinn concluded.
