Coiste na Mí C.L.G. are delighted to unveil the winners of our Annual Awards which will be presented at our Awards Night in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim on Friday December 8.

Congratulations to all of our award winners who are recognised for either their on field or off field accomplishments in 2023.

Footballer of the Year – Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)

Photo via Paula Greif

After a stellar season in which he captained his county to the Tailteann Cup and his club to the Intermediate Championship, Donal is receiving this award for the second time, having previously won it in 2019. A calm assured presence at all times in the defence, Donal predominantly lined out at wing back but dropped into the corner when required to do a man marking job. A model of consistency, Donal lined out in all bar one game across the season when missing out on the Round 7 game in the Allianz League through injury.

When it came to the Club Championship, he got his due reward for years of fantastic service to Rathkenny when accepting the Mattie McDonnell Cup on behalf of his club. He had to wait a long time to win silverware for club or county but 2023 was the year when Donal finally got to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand and the stand in Páirc Tailteann.

Hurler of the Year – Brendan McKeon (Kildalkey)

Photo via Paula Greif

This was a year in which Brendan was at his brilliant best for both club and county as he helped both to a year of marvellous success. Allianz Hurling League Division 2 B glory was secured in the spring when Donegal were defeated in the final before Christy Ring Cup success followed in the height of the summer in Croke Park.

In addition to this, Kildalkey claimed the Senior Hurling Championship and Brendan Davis Cup and at the heart of all this was the performances of the diminutive corner back. Throughout the season Brendan led by example with his tight, no-nonsense style of marking and he was a nightmare for corner forwards at both club and county level. A fine stickman as well as a sticky defender, Brendan regularly burst out of defence with the sliotar and picked out a colleague in the attack with a well-placed delivery.

In the eyes of many seasoned observers, Brendan missed out on selection for the Champion 15 Hurling Team of the Year, but he is a well deserving selection as the Meath Hurler of the Year for 2023.

Young Footballer of the Year – Adam McDonnell (Summerhill)

Photo via David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net

The season didn’t get off to a great start for Adam when injury ruled him out for the U-20 Leinster Championship, but he bounced back in fine fashion when starting for Summerhill as the club won its first Keegan Cup in ten years. Lining out in what his fast become his customary right half back position, Adam was a pivotal figure throughout the Championship with his tenacious style of defending standing out while he also has a propensity to ghost forward from that wing back role to chip in with vital scores, something underlined by the fact that he was his sides third top scorer over the course of the Championship.

Young Hurler of the Year – Kyle Ennis (Trim)

Photo via Fidgy Fotos

The young sharpshooter from Trim was impressive as captain when Meath claimed back-to-back successes in the Peader Ó Liathain Cup when defeating Carlow in the final back in May. Kyle had showcased his rich potential twelve months previously when being a leading light on the side as they also defeated Carlow to win the competition but came into this year’s edition as a marked man as a result of his exploits twelve months previously. An excellent display of marksmanship in the final stood out as Kyle helped himself to ten points.

Referee of the Year – Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin)

Twenty-three years after his father won this award, Andrew Smith is the recipient of the Meath Referee of the Year Award. Andrew enjoyed a fine year with the whistle and took charge of two of the biggest games of the year when being the man in the middle for the Leinster Minor Football Championship Final and the Meath Intermediate Football Championship Final.

An excellent communicator with the players, Andrew and his team of officials were at the top of their game this year. The Dunshaughlin clubman contributed handsomely to what was an epic finale to the IFC as he got every big call correct in a game which went all the way to extra-time.

Most Improved Referee of the Year – Robert Purfield (St. Patrick’s)

Photo via Gerry Shanahan/www.cyberimages.net

There is an excellent crop of referees who have joined the ranks in recent seasons and one of the main protagonists is St. Patrick’s clubman Robert Purfield who returned to the refereeing fold in 2020 after a break of around ten years. Robert exudes a calm demeanour on the pitch and has a style of officiating which generally allows a game to flow while he keeps a lid on any potential flashpoints. Robert was the man in the middle for the Junior Football Championship decider between Kilbride and Clann na nGael as he continues his ascent through the refereeing ranks.

Grounds of the Year – Walterstown

Those who attended games in Walterstown over the course of the Championship regularly heard the phrase ‘That pitch has never looked so well’ being uttered. And never a truer word was issued as the pitch truly was in immaculate condition for all games this year. In addition to the playing surface being in superb condition, the club also have a new perimeter fence around the main pitch, a newly installed walkway which is a wonderful community amenity and a scoreboard which is the envy of every county ground.

The grounds committee in the club have a lot to be proud of and this is a well deserved award for all in Walterstown.

Club of the Year – Kildalkey

When the history of the Kildalkey club is written, 2023 will no doubt have a special chapter all of its own after the club enjoyed a year which resembled something from a Disney fairytale. Much has been written in local and national media about how a club in a small village has conquered all around them over the course of the season and it cannot be repeated often enough how great a season it has been for them. A quick look at the competitions won at adult level tells its own story.

Senior Hurling Championship
Intermediate Hurling Championship
Junior Hurling Championship
Brendan Davis Cup
Hurling League Division 3
Billy Byrne Cup

This list alone explains why Kildalkey are very worthy recipients of the 2023 Club of the Year Award.

Public Relations Award – Bective

Since its inception in 2015, there have been many deserving winners of this award but few at the time of winning it have had the consistency over a number of years in putting out top quality material that Bective have been doing. Under the stewardship of Club PRO Paula Greif, Bective have a very active presence on social media with regular updates throughout games being a feature which makes it very easy to follow the fortunes of the club wherever you are in the world. Match reports are consistently done and submitted to their online platforms including the club website and they are currently developing a club App which will add to the multitude of ways you can keep up to date with all the goings on in the club. In addition to this, there is a photography back catalogue in the club that is the envy of any sporting photography agency. Whatever the game, whatever the age grade, Paula can be seen in the corner of the pitch with her camera snapping away. A club at the forefront of all innovations whether it be website based, social media or now the in development App, Bective are worthy recipients of this award.