Irish GAA

Ring and Rackard Champion 15 teams named

Following the success of the inaugural awards scheme for the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups in 2005, the GAA will again this year honour fifteen of the best players from the teams who participated in the Ring and Rackard Cups for 2006 at a function in Croke Park on November 18th.
The final selection of players from each competition, known as the "Champion 15", was announced earlier today. Unlike the Vodafone All Stars, the fifteen players selected are not chosen by position and players received nominations at the end of each game from officials in attendance.
Champions Antrim top the list of recipients in the Christy Ring Champion 15 with Ciaran Herron, Malachy Molloy and Patrick Richmond all being honoured. Defeated finalists Carlow and semi-finalists Kildare and Down will each have two players honoured. Under the selection format, the champions have three players honoured with two players from the beaten finalists and semi-finalists also being recognised in addition to one player from each of the other participating Counties.
The Players to be honoured as the Christy Ring Champion 15 for 2006 are: Malachy Molloy (Antrim), Paddy Richmond (Antrim), Ciaran Herron (Antrim), Pat Coady (Carlow), Des Murphy (Carlow), Eoin Hannon (Kildare), Paudie Reidy (Kildare), Paddy Barrett (Mayo), Paul Braniff (Down), Gary Savage (Down), Joe Murphy (Wicklow), Aidan Healy (Kerry), Michael Kelly (Roscommon), Fergus McMahon (London) and David Donnelly (Meath). Pat Coady (Carlow) and Joe Murphy (Wicklow) are honoured for the second year in succession, while London’s Fergus Mc Mahon was named on the Nicky Rackard Champion 15 in 2005.
The system to honour players who participated in the Rackard Cup, sees the champions given three representatives on the "Champion 15", the runnersup two and each of the other participating Counties with one player honoured.
The full selection for 2006 is: Gregory Biggs (Derry), Sean Mc Bride (Derry), Michael Conway (Derry), Aidan Begley (Donegal), Kevin Campbell (Donegal), Paul Seevers (Sligo), Brian Carroll (Leitrim), Shane Cullen (Louth), Paddy Hoey (Warwickshire) Michael Mc Hugh (Monaghan), Mark McEntee (Cavan), Paul McCormack (Armagh), Martin Coyle (Longford), Dermot Curran (Fermanagh) and Barry Winters (Tyrone). Paul Seevers (Sligo) is honoured for the second year, while Gregory Biggs wins a Rackard Cup Award this year having been named on the Ring Champion 15 in 2005.