Ulster GAA Writers Awards 2009

The Ulster GAA Writers’ Association was formed in May 1988 with the purpose of increasing public interest in Gaelic Games within Ulster.
All members of the Association are full-time working journalists dealing with GAA matters at local or national level.

The QUINN-Insurance/UGAAWA Monthly Merit Award is made to persons within the GAA whom the Association feel have done something special during the month. This award can go to anyone within the GAA – football (male & female), hurling, camogie, handball, Scor, etc.

The Ulster GAA Writers’ Association meets monthly and various items are discussed and the Monthly Merit Award winner is chosen. The award carries a prize of a Sports Voucher, a specially designed and engraved Belleek China Vase and other gifts. The awards are presented at a monthly function.

Annual awards are presented at the Annual Banquet and are not disclosed until the moment of presentation.

A feature of the banquet is The Ballot of Prizes, with up to ten sponsored prizes, raising thousands of pounds annually and the money collected goes to a nominated charity every year - GOAL, St Vincent de Paul, the Omagh Disaster Fund, the Quinn Family Appeal, The Children's Hospice Appeal and The Leukaemia Research Fund have all benefited in the past.


June winner


(Antrim Footballer Terry O'Neill, the winner of the Quinn Insurance/ Ulster GAA Writers’ Merit Award for June.)

The ‘Fairytale of New York’ has nothing on this year’s ‘Fairytale of the Ulster SFC’ as Antrim pulled off an amazing trip to the Ulster final this month. An away win over Donegal and a neutral victory over Cavan to open the door to the provincial final against Tyrone left the Saffrons as the story of June 2009.

With that in mind, an Antrim player just had to be the winner of our Quinn-Insurance/UGAAWA Merit Award for June but who would it be was the big question. Many players were in the running but in the end it boiled down to a decision between Terry O’Neill and Michael McCann. Eventually Terry O’Neill got the nod.

“It’s brilliant to be recognised but this award is more to do with the team performances than with me personally,” stressed the St Gall’s utility man who played a roving role in both games and scored a superb individual point against Cavan.”It is true to say that a lot of our players would have deserved the award but I’m delighted that I have been recognised. No-one expected us to reach the Ulster final.”


Getting a special mention, also, were hurlers Justin Kelly, scorer of 1-29 in the Larry Meagher Cup, Shane McNaughton (Antrim) and Simon Wilson (Down).

The Milltown man may not have many county trophies to show for his talents but he has gathered many honours during his years in the blue of St Gall’s. During the last two years he captained his club team to win the Antrim SFC title, bringing his total of medals in that competition to seven. The 25-year-old Belfast schoolteacher has also an Ulster Club medal, five Antrim U21 trophies and one Antrim minor award. He played club hurling at minor level, as well, but decided to concentrate fully on football.

Before an Antrim county training session at Creggan Kickham’s Complex, Terry received his Merit Award of a Belleek China engraved vase, a sports voucher compliments of the sponsors and engraved silver cuff links from Omeath jeweller Gareth Mallon. He will later receive training gear from O’Neill’s International Sports and two tickets plus overnight accommodation for the UGAAWA banquet in the Slieve Russell Hotel on November 20.