Awards: Manager of the Year

December 20, 2014

Ballinlough manager Tom Shine

There were some outstanding team displays throughout the year. Most managers will tell you that team performance has nothing to do with them and its all down to the players but we're not falling for that one.

For the third time Davy Nelson led Navan O'Mahonys to Keegan Cup success. The final day win over Donaghmore Ashbourne was achieved the hard way having conceded those two early goals and lining out without Kevin Reilly and influential keeper Marcas Brennan.

2014 was an amazing season for Kiltale as they won both the Senior Hurling Championship and Division 1 league. Former player and selector Brian Gilsenan took over from Martin Ennis earlier in the year and transformed Kiltale into double winners. They went through the championship campaign unbeaten lining out in a number of the group games without many regulars. Their performance in the final against Trim was one of the best seen for years. A week later amid all the celebrations they stunned Kildalkey with a late goal burst to take the league title. A bit of luck on the day would have seen the Meath club take Leinster Club IHC honours.

Former Dublin All-Ireland medal winner Paul Clarke almost led Donaghmore Ashbourne to the Holy Grail in his first year in charge. The Moores were unbeaten in the championship until final day.

It was a fantastic year for Ballinlough. The Mattie McDonnell Cup (IFC) came home and the North Meath club reached the finals of the Leinster club IFC, Division 2 league, Corn Na Boinne and JFC D. Given that the club were tipped as relegation candidates by many at the start of the year, it really was the stuff of fairytales. Tom Shine was at the helm for all these finals except the Junior D where he was a player/selector. He also found the time to tog out with Kilskyre hurlers.

Conor O'Donoghue enjoyed a great year at the helm of Dunboyne footballers. Out of luck in the senior championship, the juniors reached the decider only to come unstuck against Cortown in a replay. Peters suffered another final defeat at the hands of Seneschalstown in the Feis Cup decider but the Dunboyne outfit finished on a high when accounting for Na Fianna in the Division 1 football league final.

In the end it comes down to a toss-up between Brian Gilsenan and Tom Shine. Kiltale are a dominant force, almost without fault in 2014 while Ballinlough's achievements, given their resources, are hard to look past.

Our Award goes to: Tom Shine (by a whisker)


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