City of Armagh player Neil Faloon collected two awards at this year’s Ulster Bank League Awards held at the Aviva Stadium tonight.
Ireland’s Head Coach Joe Schmidt presented Neil with the Ulster Bank Ulster Player of the Year Division 2B award and the Ulster Bank Ulster Player of the Year trophy.
Local Ulster club players who featured on the awards shortlist included Ballynahinch’s Ross Adair who was shortlisted in both the Rising Star and Ulster Provincial Player of the Year categories, Sean Taylor from Ballymena, named in 1B Division Player of the Year category and in the Ulster Provincial Player of the Year category along with Belfast Harlequin’s Frank Taggart.
Queen’s University PROs Ryan Clarke and Keelan Durnien were also shortlisted in the Ulster Bank PRO of the Year.
Schmidt presented the awards in 11 different categories across all four divisions of the Ulster Bank League.
Speaking at the Ulster Bank League Awards, Doug Munro, Ulster Bank said: “Tonight is the icing on the cake of another fantastic Ulster Bank League season.
“The awards have become an important way to recognise and celebrate the dedication and commitment shown by players, coaches and teams across all divisions and those who were nominated this season should be very proud of themselves. Ulster Bank is very proud to support club rugby in Ireland and we are delighted to be able to reward these players for their achievements and efforts throughout the season.”
The winners are as follows:
- Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 1A: Matt D’Arcy, Clontarf, Dublin
- Ulster Bank Top Try Scorer – Division 1A: Matt D’Arcy, Clontarf, Dublin
- Ulster Bank Top Points Scorer – Division 1A: Josh Glynn, Old Belvedere RFC, Dublin
- Ulster Bank Rising Star of the Year Award – Division 1A: Cian Kelleher, Lansdowne FC, Dublin
- Ulster Bank Coach of the Year – Division 1A: John Staunton, Young Munster RFC, Limerick
- Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 1B: John Cleary, Galwegians RFC, Galway
- Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 2A: Ian Cassidy, Old Wesley RFC, Dublin
- Ulster Player of the Year – Division 2B: Neil Faloon, Armagh RFC, Armagh
- Ulster Bank Club PRO (Public Relations Officer) of the Year: Thomas O’Brien, Old Wesley RFC, Dublin
- Ulster Bank Provincial Player of the Year – voted by the public through Ulster Bank Rugby Social Media:
- Connacht Player of the Year: John Cleary, Galwegians RFC, Galway
- Leinster Player of the Year: Alan Large, Old Wesley RFC, Dublin
- Munster Player of the Year: Ger Slattery, Young Munster RFC
- Ulster Player of the Year: Neil Faloon, Armagh RFC, Armagh
- Ulster Bank Team of the Year – entries submitted to Newstalk and chosen by Off the Ball: Old Wesley RFC, Dublin
For more information on the Ulster Bank League Awards, go to www.facebook.com/ulsterbankrugby or find Ulster Bank Rugby on Twitter.