Conor Glass and Paddy Deegan were announced as AIB club players of the year in an event held at Croke Park on Friday evening. This celebration recognised the year’s top teams in both codes.
Playing a pivotal role for Watty Graham’s Glen from Derry, Glass helped secure the All-Ireland club football championship. Earlier in the week, Glass had been listed on the annual team lineup, alongside his club’s midfield colleague, Emmett Bradley. Glass, a past All Star who had an almost five-year tenure with the AFL’s Hawthorn, returned home to invigorate his club and county.
Famous for his aerial victories, he is also a stalwart on the attack, never more so than when he scored the all-important draw-making goal against St Brigid’s in the dying stages of the All-Ireland club final, while Glen was lagging. Glass’s team triumphed by a single point. Kilmacud Crokes’ Shane Walsh and Ben O’Carroll from St Brigid’s were additionally nominated.
Although Paddy Deegan didn’t carry off the All-Ireland, his impact throughout O’Loughlin Gaels’ journey to the finals brought him this honour. Despite playing centre back, Deegan was an exceptional scorer, even nabbing the winning goal in the Kilkenny final against reigning All-Ireland champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Far from sacrificing his defensive skills, he was a standout in O’Loughlin Gaels’ star-laden defense, particularly in the Leinster semi-final against Kilcormac-Killoughey. He contributed 0-5 from play during the provincial final, where Dublin champions Na Fianna were leading, and also scored a point, creating the winning play during the All-Ireland semi-final against Ruairí Óg Cushendall. Despite his two points in the final, a remarkable score from St Thomas’ Éanna Burke clinched the title for the Galway club. David Burke from the championship team, and Deegan’s club fellow David Fogarty were among the nominees.
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