Quinn Building Products UGAAWA Merit Award for September 2019

September belonged to the clubs with activity in every county during the month when titles were won and lost and many players sprang to prominence but, when the action was sifted through, the name of PADDY CUNNINGHAMrose to the top of the list, after the Lamh Dhearg attacker produced a number of top drawer performances during the month.

The will-o-the-wisp corner forward was in excellent scoring form as, in four outings, he totted up a tally of 3-19, including 3-4 in one game and 0-11 in another, to help the Hannastown team into the Antrim SFC final. Lamh Dhearg had to play Portglenone three times before edging through to the decider. Even a free-taking shootout wasn’t going toaa seperate the teams and at nine each a halt was called and another replay ordered.

“It was a bit of a marathon,” recalled PE instructor Cunningham who was preparing to take his third free, after scoring two, when the contest was halted.

However, things didn’t work out for Paddy and his team mates in the final (this month) but, hopefully, winning the Quinn Building Products UGAAWA Monthly Merit Award for his part in taking Lamh Dhearg into the county final will be some compensation.

“It is a great honour to win this award and I am very grateful to the Ulster GAA Writers for honouring me with it,” said the 34-year-old St Mary’s CBGS teacher at a presentation function in Quinn’s Corner Roadhouse. “It does help a little to sooth the pain of defeat in the final, although, we are very disappointed in not beating Cargin.”

In fact, Paddy and Lamh Dhearg lost in six county finals before they won the 2017 decider against St John’s.

Cunningham Played in the Antrim senior team for 11 years during which he captained them to an Ulster senior championship final. He also won a Sigerson Cup medal with UUJ and he wouldn’t mind a recall to the saffron jersey.

“I would love that,” he said, “but I don’t know how practical that might be. I have three young children, aged 12, six and three, now so being involved again in county football might be a little difficult. However, a comeback is not in my hands. It is up to others to decide that.”

The presentation to Paddy Cunningham was made by Quinn Building Products Sales and Marketing Director Seamus McMahon.

Close behind Paddy Cunningham in the voting were long serving players Kevin Cassidy, who was a major cog in Derrygonnelly winning a fifth-in-a-row of Fermanagh SFC titles, and Ballybay ace Paul Finlay.

The winner receives an engraved Belleek Living vase, compliments of the Co Fermanagh pottery, training gear from O’Neill’s International Sportswear and engraved silver cuff links compliments of Carlingford Design House.