Welcome to the 8th annual Wooly Awards.
10 categories, 10 lucky, lucky winers.
It’s not like it’s exactly the same as the Father Ted Golden Cleric ceremony where Colm Parkinson has a lot of stuff to get off his chest… but he has a lot of stuff to get off his chest.
So whilst there was some cause for celebration on the special GAA Hour episode and another chance to marvel at some of the finest feats we’ve seen in 2018, there was also a necessity to dish out some tougher awards.
Listen to the full show here.
1. Goal of the Year
Football
Nominees: Daniel Flynn (Kildare v Monaghan), David Clifford (Kerry v Monaghan), JJ Hutchinson (Waterford v Wexford), Corofin’s handpassing extravaganza goal against Nemo Rangers.
Winner: David Clifford.
David Clifford Goal for @Kerry_Official pic.twitter.com/Oopmmu60yu
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 22, 2018
Hurling
Nominees: Johnny Glynn (Galway v Clare), Conor Lehane (Cork v Limerick), Shane O’Donnell (Clare v Galway).
Winner: Shane O’Donnell.
'I think we have seen one of the goals of the Championship Brendan' – Ger Canning was rightly impressed by this Shane O'Donnell goal. Game on! Highlights 9.30pm on @RTE2 #RTEGAA https://t.co/SlPERfO9xW pic.twitter.com/lS4fV2nodp
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 5, 2018
2. Controversy of the Year
Nominees:
Mickey Harte – narrowing of Omagh pitch
Mickey Harte: “This narrowing of the pitch is nothing to do with me at all. That was a request from Sky, that they would like more clearance at the side for all their technology.”
Sky: “This is incorrect. Sky Sports did not ask for the pitch to be narrowed, nor would we ever make such a request.”
Stephen Wallace v Offaly county board
“I had the full backing from the players (but) I received a phone call from the chairman saying I had been relieved of my duties.”
Kevin McStay throwing the ball at the linesman
“I come across a lot of officiating and some of these linesmen are incredibly precious.”
Mayo ladies saga
Everyone knows the story here.
Winner: Mayo ladies saga.
3. Prefer to Walk the Dog Game of the Year
Nominees: Monaghan v Fermanagh, Dublin v Donegal, Galway v Kerry, Dublin v anyone in Leinster.
Winner: Dublin v anyone in Leinster.
4. Supporters Leaving Before the Final Whistle Performance of the Year
Nominees: Cork v Tyrone, Roscommon v Tyrone, Kildare v Fermanagh.
Winner: Roscommon.
5. So-called Weaker County Famous Win of the Year
Wooly didn’t include Fermanagh and explained why.
Nominees: Carlow v Kildare, Wexford v Waterford, Leitrim v Louth.
Winner: Carlow 2-14 Kildare 1-10.
6. GAA Management PR Fuck Up of the Year
Nominees: Newbridge or nowhere, Liam Miller venue, Central Council rejecting review of fixtures, Central Council turning blind eye to Dublin’s two games at Croke Park in Super 8s.
Winner: Newbridge or nowhere.
7. Individual Performance of the Year
Football
Nominees: Shane Walsh v Roscommon, Graham Brody v Monaghan, Conor McManus v Kerry, Paul Broderick v Kildare.
Winner: Graham Brody (Laois).
Hurling
Nominees: Joe Canning v Wexford, Aaron Gillane v Cork, Shane Dowling v Cork, Conal Keaney v Kilkenny, Cathal Mannion v Kilkenny, John McGrath v Cork, Peter Duggan v Galway, Kyle Hayes v Galway, TJ Reid v Wexford.
Winner: Shane Dowling v Cork.
8. Paraic Duffy Award for New Structure Nightmare
Nominees: O’Byrne Cup final played in April, Last round of league cancelled, Kieran Molloy playing two huge games in one day, April for clubs farce, Hurling teams playing three weeks in a row.
Winner: Kieran Molloy’s Sunday.
9. Wooly Parkinson Ego Award for Dropping Off the Panel Because You’re Not Getting Your Game
Nominees: Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), James McGrath quitting referees panel over All-Ireland final snub, Westmeath hurling referee Alfie Devine not happy with just being linesmen or fourth official.
Winner: James McGrath.
10. Special Award for Celebration of the Year
Winner: Gweedore.
