KILREA score-grabber Paddy Quigg took a night from studying to attend an important function this week.
He was there to collect the Liam Murray Memorial Player of the Tournament trophy following his displays in the Ulster Club Minor Football event, organised by Belfast club St Paul’s.
Quigg finished on the losing side after the highly entertaining final, as Burren took the Jimmy McConville Cup for the first time, on a 4-8 to 3-5 scoreline. It was no fault of the Kilrea number 15, however, that the Derry champions lost.
Throughout the competition Quigg was a star attacker. He scored 4-19 in his four games, often grabbing telling scores at vital times in matches to take his team into the next round. None were more important than the two late, late points he scored to oust Carrickmore, by one point, in the semi-finals.
It looked like curtains for Kilrea when the Tyrone representatives went one up entering injury time but Quigg rifled over two steel-nerved free-kicks from distances to win the match. Those were scores that even the most seasoned county player would have found difficult to execute.
“Losing the final was a bitter disappointment to us but fair play to Burren, they had their homework done and they deserved to win on the day. The disappointment has not yet fully worn off for me but getting this award is a great help.
“It is very nice to be honoured with the Player of the Tournament overall and I thank St Paul’s for the award. We will just have to win the Derry championship again this year and try again for the Ulster title,” reflected St Patrick’s Maghera student Quigg.
He is one of 10 Kilrea starters, plus a few reserves, in the 2016 championship who will be eligible again for minor ranks this year.
The Liam Murray Memorial Award winner was selected by members of the Ulster GAA Writers’ Association, who covered the Ulster tournament. The presentation was made by the late Liam Murray’s father Bob and St Paul’s chairman Kieran Cooper, at Quinn’s Corner.
