Dermot Earley and Stephen Banville receive May GAA Player of the Month awards sponsored by Vodafone Two stars of the 2009 All Ireland Championship season are today being honoured for their sterling performances after being selected for the GAA Player of the Month Awards, sponsored by Vodafone. Kildare footballer Dermot Earley and Wexford hurler Stephen Banville, both of whom starred in their first round championship victories in May, will get their names on the official GAA Player of the Month honours list for the first time when they receive their awards at the Westbury Hotel at lunchtime today. Earley (30) was in inspirational form as he helped power Kildare to an impressive six point victory over Offaly in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday, May 24th last, scoring two points from his midfield berth. Earley, who made his championship debut in 1997, has two Leinster titles already to his name and will be going for a third this year following his side's victory over '08 beaten All Ireland semi-finalists Wexford in Sunday's quarter final. Army officer Earley is also a former Vodafone All-Star (1998) and has one Railway Cup, eight International Rules Caps and three Kildare senior football titles to his credit. The hurling award, for the second month in succession, goes to another Leinster man, with Wexford's Stephen Banville deservedly following Richie Power from great rivals Kilkenny onto the honours list. Banville was the key figure in Wexford's crucial Leinster championship first round victory over Offaly in Wexford Park on May 31st last, scoring 2-2 from play as the Faithful County was put to the sword. His outstanding match-winning performance in the seven point victory gave Wexford fans plenty to cheer about, not least because it overturned the county's defeat at the hands of the same opponents in the Division 2 league final four weeks earlier. Aged 24, the bank official made his inter-county debut in the National Hurling League against Clare in 2007. He has one intermediate hurling All-Ireland title to his name, as well as an intermediate county championship medal with his club Shelmaliers. Congratulating the duo on their award, GAA Uachtarán Criostóir Ó Cuana predicted that there will be plenty more from both in the season ahead. "Dermot and Stephen have both set down strong markers in their championship matches that they are both very much key to their respective counties' fortunes this year. Kildare have certainly hit the ground running this year and Dermot has been one of their biggest stars. He has given fantastic service to Kildare over the years and is the same type of driving force for them as his father was in his heyday with Roscommon. It is great also to see Stephen's name on the winners list. Wexford have over the years produced some of the games greatest full-forwards and I anticipate that Stephen's individual display against Offaly is only the beginning for him and that he will wear the proud mantle of being Wexford's target-man well throughout his career." Vodafone Consumer Director Carolan Lennon said that the '09 championship will be all the better for big performances from both Dermot and Stephen. "The championship is starting to hot up now and Kildare and Wexford are two very important counties to football and hurling, respectively. The championship needs both of them and if we have more performances like the ones we had in May from Dermot and Stephen, Championship '09 will certainly be all the better for it." Dermot Earley Factfile Age: 30 Club: Sarsfields County Debut: Meath, Championship 1997 Honours: 2 Leinster SFC; 3 Kildare SFC; 8 International Rules Caps; 1 Railway Cup; 1 All-Star Positions played in for county: Midfield Occupation: Army Officer Top Ten: 1. Greatest inspiration on career: My parents Dermot and Mary 2. Favourite moment of career: Winning the All Ireland Semi Final in 1998 3. Current Kildare player you most admire: Anthony Rainbow 4. Current player from other county you most admire: Sean Kavanagh 5. Player you most admire of all-time: Niall Buckley 6. Toughest opponent: The next one 7. Tip for the season: Cork 8. Favourite venue: Croke Park 9. What changes you would like to see in the game: None...if played in the right spirit the game is perfect. 10. Greatest GAA memory: I will answer that when my career is over! Stephen Banville Factfile Age: 24 Club: Shelmaliers County debut: Clare, NHL 2007 Honours: 1 Intermediate hurling all-Ireland, 1 intermediate county championship Positions played in for county: Half Forward/Full Forward Occupation: Bank Official Top ten 1. Greatest inspiration on career: Peter Walsh; father of David Walsh, who currently plays on Wexford Football team. Peter was responsible for starting what became a very successful group of players in my home club. 2. Favourite moment of career: First time starting championship for Wexford and every time after that. 3. Current Wexford player you most admire: Damien Fitzhenry 4. Current player from other county you most admire: Many great players but Lar Corbett is exciting to watch 5. Player you most admire of all-time: Nicky Rackard/ George O'Connor 6. Toughest opponent: JJ Delaney 7. Tip for the season: Wexford! 8. Favourite venue: Croke Park 9. What change you would like to see most in the game: I would like to see more legitimate physicality come into the game, just as we saw during the nineties, which was a great period for the game with some many different winners of All-Irelands 10. Greatest GAA memory: Standing on the Hill in 1996 as a 12 year old watching Wexford win the All-Ireland! Tweet

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