Niall Murray collected the fans favourite award at the Connacht rugby awards on Saturday.
It was a night of double celebrations for the Connacht and Buccaneers man who also captured the ‘Try of the Year’ award.
The 23-year-old south Roscommon lock who was recently named on the United Rugby Championship Elite XV for the current season.
Murray has made 56 senior appearances for the province. Murray’s try against Benetton on December third was awarded the try of the year.
Elsewhere, Caolin Blade and Orla Dixon were named the Connacht Rugby Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year for 2022/23.
Scrum-half Blade won the prestigious Player of the Year award for the first time in his career. Finlay Bealham was second and Mack Hansen third. Máiread Coyne and Clara Barrett came second and third respectively in the Women’s category.
Meanwhile the Academy Player of the Year award went to Hugh Gavin and was also named U19 Player of the Year.
The full list of winners is as follows:
U18 Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Sound to Light
Tomás Farthing (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Creg Mhuire)
U18 Women’s Player of the Year, sponsored by RDJ
Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (Tuam RFC/Oughterard RFC/Corinthians RFC/Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin)
U19 Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Grant Thornton
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Iognáid)
Academy Player of the Year, sponsored by Total Health Pharmacy
Hugh Gavin
Referee of the Year
Shane Touhy
Coach of the Year
Eddie Walsh (Westport RFC)
Women’s Club Player of the Year
Karly Tierney (Tuam RFC/Oughterard RFC)
Junior Club Player of the Year
Eoghan Coyle (Creggs RFC)
Senior Club Player of the Year
Mark Boyle (Corinthians RFC)
Club of the Year, sponsored by Bank of Ireland
Sligo RFC
Connacht Rugby Unsung Hero, sponsored by Keystone Lintels
Fergus ‘Gussie’ Farrell
Try of the Year, sponsored by Western Postform
Niall Murray (vs Benetton)
Fans’ Player of the Year, sponsored by Murty Rabbitts
Niall Murray
Women’s Player of the Year, sponsored by G-P
Orla Dixon
Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Genesys
Caolin Blade
Lifetime Contribution to Connacht Rugby, sponsored by Oliver Carty Meats
Daithí Frawley
