The 4 Seasons Hotel is the venue for the Monaghan GAA awards ceremony as players and clubs are recognised for the excellence of their contributions during 2017, and there are also a number of special awards as well as the induction of 4 further members into the Monaghan GAA Hall of Fame.

That honour this time, went to players who had figured for Monaghan in the 70s and into the 80s, led by the captain of the 1979 team, Brendan Brady, a descendant of the late great Patrick Whelan, Brendan led Monaghan to the Ulster championship in 1979 when the County ended a 41 years wait in the championship wilderness.

Kevin Treanor was also a member of that team and established a unique record for himself in that he played at minor, Junior, under 21 and senior level in the same year and created a special record by playing Ulster minor and senior championship football for Monaghan on the same day in 1972.

One of the best-known players to ever represent Scotstown and Monaghan was Gerry McCarville, a player who enjoys folk hero status in the County and is the holder of 3 Ulster senior championship medals, a national football league medal, 3 railway cup medals and 3 Dr McKenna Cup medals, as well as having amassed, 11 Monaghan senior Championships, 14 Monaghan senior football league medals and 4 Ulster club championship medals, truly one of the all-time greats of the game.

Paddy Kerr from Ballybay was also a member of the 1979 team but one of his abiding moments was winning an All Ireland Club championship medal with UCD when he was a student there, and when he retired as a player, he served a stint as manager of the Monaghan senior team. There were special presentations to Stephen Gollogly who has retired after serving the county for well over a decade and the Monaghan Supporters Club player of the year, Fintan Kelly was also acknowledged for his contribution during 2017.

In the player awards, Kieran Hughes, Scotstown, won, the senior player of the year, Stephen O'Hanlon, Carrickmacross won the intermediate award, Jack McCarron took the award for the Junior grade and the burgeoning talents of Conor McCarthy saw him named as Young Footballer of the year. In hurling, Brian Flanagan took the senior gong and Paddy Bermingham the Youth award.

The full list of winners was as follows:

Senior Footballer: Kieran Hughes, (Scotstown).

Intermediate Footballer: Stephen O'Hanlon, (Carrickmacross).

Junior Footballer: Jack McCarron, (Currin).

Young Footballer: Conor McCarthy, (Scotstown).

Senior Hurler: Brian Flanagan, (Castleblayney H C).

Young Hurler: Paddy Birmingham, (Carrickmacross H C).

Senior Club Official: Patricia Smith, (Killeevan).

Juvenile Club Official: Donal McAdam, (Drumhowan).

Handballer of the Year: Michael Clerkin, (Bawn).

Camogie Award: Niamh Brennan (Castleblayney Camogie Club)

Ladies Footballer: Ciara McAnespie  (Emyvale).

Hall of Fame: Brendan Brady, (Aghabog), Paddy Kerr, (Ballybay), Gerry McCarville, (Scotstown), Kevin Treanor, (Truagh).

Special Merit Award: Monaghan GAA New York.

Club of the Year: Eire Og.

Club Monaghan Senior Footballer: Fintan Kelly, (Clones).

Retired Senior County Player: Stephen Gollogly, (Carrickmacross).

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