A tremendous year for Tyrone hurling was topped off on Monday night when Eire Ogs and Tyrone minor star Pauric Kerr collected the Ulster GAA writers merit award for September after helping Tyrone to the all Ireland minor C title, the mild mannered defender joining Damian Casey as an Ulster writers winner this year.
There may have been no Ulster sides in action in Croke Park in September, but there was still plenty of action for the Quinn Building Products Ulster GAA Writers’ Association to get their teeth into.
Club championships throughout the nine counties dominated headlines but it was an All-Ireland crown that came north that most attracted the scribes’ attention. Tyrone minor hurlers lifted the All-Ireland C title after two epic battles against Mayo.
Dominating the Red Hand rearguard was Pauric Kerr, who marshalled the Tyrone defence from the full back berth. The young electrical engineer from the Eire Og club admitted his surprise at picking up the Writers’ award, and paid tribute to the his team-mates.
“It’s amazing to get the award and to be recognised, first of all as a player from this grade of competition, secondly to be a Tyrone hurler and as a defender – sometimes we don’t get the same recognition as the forwards. It is, though, an award for the whole team,” said Kerr.
After a pulsating draw in Leitrim, Tyrone trailed by eight points in the replay but produced a stunning comeback, with Kerr playing a key role in the number three jersey as Mayo threw everything at them.
He was also part of the Carrickmore Eire Og squad that progressed in the Ulster intermediate club championship against Keady at the weekend.
To win the September award, Kerr had to see off stiff opposition from the raft of club championship games that took place throughout the province. Cargin’s Michael McCann and Roslea’s Sean Quigley also impressed the Writers with their performances in the Antrim and Fermanagh senior football championships.
Pauric receives an engraved Belleek Living vase, training gear from O’Neill’s International Sports, specially designed silver cuff links from Carlingford Design House and a deluxe medical kit bag from 3FiveTwo at Kingsbridge Private Hospital. He will also receive two tickets and overnight accommodation for the UGAAWA Banquet which takes place on Friday, November 13, at the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran.
The presentation was made to Pauric by Quinn Building Products’ Sean McCaffrey.
By Paddy Wed 7th Oct
