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.


September winner


(The award was presented to Geardine at a function in Slieve Russell Hotel by Shane McCabe, Quinn Insurance Internal Sales Manager.)

For the second time this year, we make history with our Quinn Insurance Monthly Merit Award. Our April award went to a Scor competitor, the first time that Scor was honoured in the 21-plus years of the award. Now our September award creates another first.

It goes to Geardine McCann who led Antrim to a historic victory in the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship final and completes a first husband and wife double. Geardine is wife of Tyrone Allstar Enda McGinley who was a Monthly Merit winner for August 2008.

Legal Eagle Geardine led the Saffrons to victory over Limerick at Croke Park with a solid midfield display, giving strength and example to her team mates.

“It’s brilliant to get this award,” she beamed when told of the honour. “I just can’t believe it. I have been playing football for 13 years and this is my first personal award. Now I’m level with Enda after him getting this honour last year and I have an All-Ireland medal to put alongside his, also.”


A fortnight before the Croke Park highlight, Geardine was a member of the Bredagh ladies’ team that won the Down Championship which was the first leg of a nice double.

Cargin, her home club, doesn’t have a ladies’ team so she played her football from the age of 13 with Moneyglass before moving to Belfast and joining Bredagh. She says she learned her football playing with brothers Michael and Tómas, the current Antrim stars, and was able to outplay them.

For her award she receives a UGAAWA Sports voucher, an engraved Belleek China vase, hand-made jewellery from Gareth Mallon (Omeath), training gear from O’Neill’s Sport and two tickets plus overnight accommodation for our annual banquet on November 20 at Slieve Russell Hotel. She got the award ahead of Armagh MF manager Paul McShane while Armagh minor Andrew Murnin, Dunloy hurling ‘keeper Gareth McGhee and Derrygonnelly’s Martin Greene also get special mention.