Laois GAA announce award winners for 2023 as Keyes, Kelly, Scully and Dooley scoop top club honours
Laois GAA have announced the winners of the prestigious GAA awards for 2023. In total 17 different clubs will be represented at the ceremony on November 24 at the Midlands Park Hotel.
Mark Timmons and Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher scoop the county players of the year awards after their fine performances for their respective clubs and county in 2023.
Timmons was a stand out performer in the blue and white of Laois with the Graiguecullen man holding his own at centre-back. His scoring exploits were to the fore as well this year with the Graiguecullen man firing in 2-4 over the course of the year. He also starred for his club as they were beaten by Portlaoise at the semi-final stage.
Picky was one of a few consistent performers for the Laois hurlers. Willie Maher’s side were relegated from Division 1 while also failing to win the Joe McDonagh. The Clough-Ballacolla man had a phenomenal club championship as well but his side fell short in the semi final stage to eventual champions Camross after a penalty shoot-out.
St Joseph’s James Kelly picked up the club football player of the year as he took his club to their first Senior title in 23 years. His performances for St Joseph’s have been nothing short of exceptional. The wing back has bundles of energy and is ultra reliable. His two points in the county final ended with his side climbing the steps of Laois Hire O’Moore Park to lift the Jack Delaney Cup.
Tomas ‘Mossy’ Keyes picked up the Senior club hurler of the year award. Mossy fired in a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes on county final day as well as scoring six times from play on the day as the young man propelled his team to their 27th Laois Senior title.
On the Ladies side of things, Crettyard's Roisin Allen takes the Junior crown while St Joseph's Emily Lacey is Intermediate player of the year. Fiona Dooley from Portlaoise is the winner of the Senior award with Ballyroan star Clodagh Dunne set to be crowned Laois Inter-County player of the year.
The Camogie awards have also been revealed with Camross star Fiona Scully set to pick up the Laois Inter-County Camogie accolade. Inside of the county, Eimear Hassett is the Minor winner with Louise Mahony from The Harps the Junior winner. Sarah Ann Fitzgerald from Camross takes the Intermediate crown for her exceptional performances in the black and amber jersey.
Eoghan Murphy and Justin Duggan from The Harps have picked up the Minor and U-20 hurlers of the year respectively.
The Heath's JJ Kirby has been awarded Referee of the Year with Martin Scully from Camross set to be inducted into the Laois GAA Hall of Fame on the night.
See the full list of award winners below:
Senior Football - James Kelly (St Joseph’s)
Senior “B” Football - Tom Shiel (Stradbally)
Intermediate Football - Gary Walsh (Ballylinan)
Intermediate “B” Football – Conor Whelehan (Timahoe)
Junior Football - John Scully (Annanough)
Minor Football - David Donohue (Stradbally Parish Gaels)
Senior Hurling - Tomas Keyes (Camross)
Premier Intermediate Hurling - Eoin O'Connor (Portlaoise)
Intermediate Hurling - Nathan Dunne (Colt-Shanahoe)
Junior Hurling - Michael Brennan (Park Ratheniska Timahoe)
Under 20 Hurling – Justin Duggan (The Harps)
Minor Hurling - Eoghan Murphy (The Harps)
Laois Inter County Senior Football - Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen)
Laois Inter County Senior Hurling - Stephen Maher (Clough Ballacolla)
Scor – Courtwood Quiz Team (Pat O’Connell, Brian Nolan, John Boland & PJ Kelly)
Referee – JJ Kirby (The Heath)
Hall of Fame – Martin Cuddy (Camross)
Camogie:
Minor Camogie - Eimear Hassett (St. Brigids)
Intermediate Camogie - Sarah Ann Fitzgerald (Camross)
Junior - Louise Mahony (The Harps)
Laois Inter County Camogie - Fiona Scully (Camross)
LGFA:
Junior LGFA – Roisín Allen (Crettyard)
Intermediate LGFA – Emily Lacey (St Joseph’s)
Senior LGFA – Fiona Dooley (Portlaoise)
Laois Inter County Ladies Football– Clodagh Dunne
Under 20 Football – to be confirmed.
Laois Handball: Kevin Brennan (Clough-Ballacolla)