Jackie Coyne wins Mayo hurling award

Jackie Coyne wins hurling award


Mike Finnerty

ONE of the best-known figures in Mayo hurling will become the inaugural winner of The Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars ‘Hurling Recognition’ award next month.
Jackie Coyne was selected for the prestigious accolade after managing Tooreen to their first county senior title in years, and masterminding a famous victory over Four Roads of Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final. The boys in blue came within two points of a provincial intermediate title, losing narrowly to Kilnadeema/Leitrim of Galway.
The Carn, Tooreen native will be presented with his award at the charity fund-raising event in Knockranny House Hotel, Westport. All proceeds from this year’s event (which is being held on Saturday, December 7) will go to Enable Ireland’s local services.
The recently retired teacher has given a lifetime of service to the ‘small ball’ game. He won six county titles with Tooreen as a player, helped establish the Bord na nÓg sections of both Aghamore GAA Club and Tooreen Hurling Club in the 1980s. He also served as Cumann na mBunscol Mhaigh Eo Hurling Officer for a number of years, while his gentle style of coaching imparted the fundamentals of Gaelic games over many decades at Knock National School.
Féile na nGael hurling tours and trips to the All-Ireland Sevens in Kilmacud were annual ventures for the Mayo man. He enjoyed national success too, managing Tooreen to an All-Ireland Sevens in 1983, and was again in charge when the club won their only All-Ireland Féile na nGael title in 2004. At county level, he worked alongside the late TJ Tyrell as Mayo secured All-Ireland U-16 ‘C’ and minor ‘C’ titles in the 1990s. A hugely popular figure, he has coached and encouraged generations of families in Tooreen.
The Club Stars Team of the Year – and five replacements – will be revealed on the night in Westport, as well as the ‘Players of the Year’ in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Championships respectively. The ‘Young Player of the Year’ and the ‘Special Achievement’ award winners will also be honoured.
Meanwhile, Cill ChomΡin footballers Rory Ginty, Brendan Moran and James McAndrew have all been shortlisted for the Mayo Junior Player of the Year award, while Castlebar’s Patrick Durcan, Breaffy’s Liam Irwin, Moy Davitts’ Brian Heneghan, and Crossmolina’s Conor Loftus are in the running for the ‘Young Footballer of the Year’ accolade.

Get your tickets
CLUB STARS Banquet tickets for the event on Saturday, December 7 cost €60 and are available on 098 25311. All proceeds go to Enable Ireland.