The Hill Grove Hotel in Monaghan, which has hosted many of the Gala occasions for the GAA in the county over the years was the place to be on Saturday night when the great and the good assembled to recognise those who had excelled at club level both on and off the field last year. The Footballer of the year awards in senior, intermediate and junior all the fault the championship winners where Scotstown, Truagh and Emyvale players are all recognized, although Inniskeen may feel slightly aggrieved that their double success in hurling did not merit the same recognition by the decision makers. Top of the agenda as always on Saturday night was the induction of two further members into the Monaghan GAA Hall of Fame and this too saw a first in the county as up to now the recipients of the Hall of Fame Award have all been former county players. That changed this year though with the induction of Sean McCague for his outstanding services and achievements over a lifetime of involvement. His citation reflected on a career that started with his club Scotstown where he served as an officer and team manager, it also reflected on his accession to officership with Monaghan County Board starting with that of joint county secretary, moving on through representation on the Ulster Council and later Central Council and the Management Committee in Croke Park, culminating of course in his election as Uachtaran Cumann Luthchleas Gael, the first Monaghan man to be so honoured. The accolade did not stop there though as Sean McCague has earned a special place for himself in the hearts and minds of Monaghan GAA people as the team manager who masterminded Monaghan's return to winning ways when he steered the county to a first Ulster championship title in 41 years back in 1979 and went on to mastermind their national league and Ulster championship double in 1985 and another Ulster championship in 1988. A vital member of that team in 1979 joined the former president in the Hall of Fame with the induction of Clontibret's Sean Hughes, a man who has earned himself the status of an all-time great for his outstanding service at club and county level, being recognised in his time as one of the outstanding defenders in the game. There were awards too for handball, ladies football, club achievement awards in underage football and hurling and the recognition of club officials and their unselfish work to promote gaelic games, the top one being the senior club official of the year which went to Killeevan chairman Darren Greenan. Guest speaker on the night was Irish Times columnist and unashamed Monaghan man Frank McNally and there was entertainment provided too by the Drumhowan All Ireland Scor winning instrumental music group with a wry reflection on an unnamed Monaghan hurler by Clones man Colm Kirk.

The full list of Award winners was as follows:
Senior Footballer: Kieran Hughes (Scotstown),
Intermediate Footballer: Padraig McKenna (Truagh),
Junior Footballer: Daniel McMahon (Emyvale),
Young Footballer Rory Beggan, (Scotstown),
Senior Hurler: Peter Treanor (Castleblayney HC),
Young Hurler: Jamie Guinan (Carrickmacross HC),
Senior Club Official: Darren Greenan (Killeevan),
Juvenile Club Official: Joanne Rehill (Clones),
Handballer of the Year: Terry McElvaney (Monaghan Harps),
Camogie Player: Marie Greenan, (Clontibret),
Ladies Footballer: Sharon Courtney (Donaghmoyne),
Youth Achievement Award Football: Donaghmoyne,
Youth Achievement Award Hurling: Monaghan Harps HC,
Most Improved Club in Scor: Truagh,
Hall of Fame: Sean McCague, (Scotstown), Sean Hughes (Clontibret),
Special Merit Award: Seamus McMeel (Truagh),
Club of the Year: Scotstown,
Club Monaghan Senior Footballer: Dessie Mone (Clontibret).

REFEREE PRESENTATIONS.
Also presented on the night will be the presentations of special mementos to the referees who handled the various championship finals last year as well as a special award for the Youth Referee which this year goes to the young whistler from the Monaghan Harps club.

Senior FC Final Referee: Martin McNally (Corduff)
Intermediate FC Final Referee: Jason McAndrew (Ballybay)
Junior FC Final Referees: Donal Connolly (Scotstown), Kieran Rudden (Killeevan).
Minor FC Final Referee: Ciaran Mulligan (Aghabog)
Senior Hurling Final Referee: Jason McAndrew (Ballybay)
Youth Referee: Pauric Coyle (Monaghan Harps). Tweet

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