Monaghan star Drew Wylie received a timely boost ahead of Sunday's Ulster SFC final by winning the Ulster GAA Writers Association monthly award for June.

Monaghan star Drew Wylie received a timely boost ahead of Sunday's Ulster final against Donegal when the Ulster GAA Writers' Association presented their monthly award to the Farney full-back.

It also serves as a belated birthday present for Wylie who celebrated his 25th birthday last week, and the Ballybay clubman admits he is a bit overawed at his new-found glory.

"Listen, this is a really big surprise to me and I greatly appreciate it. I never imagined that I would be in the reckoning for such an award as the Ulster GAA Writers' Monthly Merit," said Wylie.

"Like most winners, I'm sure, will say that I didn't win it on my own. This is a team game and without the help of my colleagues I wouldn't be getting the award. They make it easy for me but I'm delighted that I am the player selected. It is a nice boost for me going into the Ulster final."

Last year, Drew won his club's 'Man of the Year' after Ballybay had collected the Monaghan Senior Football Championship title. He reveals that is the only previous individual award he has ever won.

Wylie has beaten off the challenges of many opponents in the past years - he is four years in the Monaghan senior panel - and for this honour he survived the challenges of county colleague Colin Walsh and Donegal sharpshooter Colm McFadden, a previous winner of the award. There was an honourable mention, also, for the Down hurlers who won the Christy Ring Cup last month.

Like all other UGAAWA monthly winners, Drew receives an engraved Belleek Living Vase, engraved silver cuff links from Omeath jeweller Garrett Mallon, training gear from O'Neill's International Sports, a sports voucher from the UGAAWA and two tickets plus overnight accommodation for the UGAAWA annual banquet, at the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran, next November. Tweet

Most Read Stories