ODHRÁN MAC NIALLAIS was named as the winner of the Quinn Products Monthly Merit Award for June by the Ulster GAA Writers Association.
Donegal seem to be able to produce raiding forwards on a regular basis. Young talent to replace ageing limbs and, surely, there hasn’t been any fresh face more successful than MacNiallais, since he emerged onto the squad, three years ago.
His debut actually came way back in 2011 when Jim McGuinness drafted him onto the squad for the Dr McKenna Cup.
The Gweedore man has blossomed into one of the top forwards in Ireland and his performances against Fermanagh and Monaghan, in the drawn game, during June pushed Donegal on their way towards another Ulster SFC final.
When the chips were down and Donegal were reduced to 14 players for the second half against Fermanagh, leadership and extra energy was needed.
Nobody provided that better than Mac Niallais (23) who cracked home two goals, special hits that won the game.
When another big score was needed against Monaghan, in the drawn semi-final, Odhran provided it, once more, with a golden goal.
For those performances, he wins the Quinn Products Monthly Merit Award for June.
Picture caption: Odhrán Mac Niallais, winner of the Quinn Building Products Ulster GAA Writers Merit Award for June, is congratulated by Rory Gallagher, Donegal team Manager. With them are – John Martin, Chairman UGAAWA; Seamus McMahon, Quinn Building Products Sales and Marketing Director for Ireland; and Garrett Mallon, Carlingford Design House and a monthly sponsor for this award. Picture by Peadar McMahon
“That is a great honour and I appreciate it very much,” enthused the goal-grabbee when told of his award.
[adrotate group=”38″]“Team awards are great but to get a personal honour like this is really special. It is a big lift going into the Ulster final.”
In his trophy drawer, the Donegal man has three All-Ireland Gaeltacht Football Championship medals alongside a couple of Ulster SFC awards. “We have under-achieved at club level so I have no club medals,” he reflected.
He is now, of course, looking forward to the provincial final against Tyrone, a game he describes as “a real tough test”.
To win the June Merit Award, he had to beat off challenges from Tyrone’s Ronan O’Neill and Monaghan’s Karl O’Connell, with Rosemary Courtney (Monaghan) and Tyrone hurler Lawrence Cunningham also in the mix.
[adrotate group=”46″]Odhran was presented with his Merit Award of an engraved Belleek Living vase, specially designed silver cuff links by Garrett Mallon of Carlingford Design House, training gear from O’Neill’s International Sportswear and a medical kit bag from 3FiveTwo, on behalf of Kingsbridge Private Hospital.
The presentation was made by Quinn Building Products Sales & Marketing Director for Ireland Seamus McMahon, at a reception in the Donegal County Council Offices, Lifford.
“That is a lot of awards and I must try harder to win this Merit again,” cracked MacNiallais.
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