#CIAwards2016 Winners!

November 11th 2016 | International, Coaching, Women, Youth

Ireland stars Ed Joyce and Ciara Metcalfe have been rewarded for impressive international seasons by being named winners of the top prizes at the 2016 KPC Group Cricket Ireland Awards.

Joyce fought off tough competition from Kevin O’Brien and Tim Murtagh to claim the KPC Group International Men’s Player of the Year award. He scored 522 runs during the qualification period at an average of 58, scoring two centuries against Afghanistan. It’s a hat-trick for Joyce, who previously won the award in 2013 and 2015.

Ciara Metcalfe scooped the Cricketshop.ie International Women’s Player of the Year award,  beating off the challenge of Isobel Joyce and Kim Garth. The Hills’ leg-spinner Metcalfe was rewarded after an excellent season saw her take 22 wickets at just 15.59, helping Ireland to wins over both South Africa and Bangladesh. She also took 4 for 15 against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup.

Barry McCarthy is this year’s Sunday Independent Aengus Fanning Emerging Player of the Year. The 24 year-old enjoyed a remarkable debut season in international cricket, taking 18 ODI wickets in just eight matches, including four-wicket hauls against Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Two other Irish debutants picked up awards, with the Pembroke pair of Lorcan Tucker and Josh Little being rewarded for excellent seasons. Wicket-keeper/batsman Tucker was named Flogas Junior Player of the Year, while left-arm paceman Josh Little picked up the Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy Player of the Year. Both played with great distinction during Ireland’s U19 World Cup campaign in Bangladesh, and are tipped for bright futures in the game.

There was double success for Leinster Lightning skipper John Anderson after an exceptional season at Inter-provincial and domestic level. In a year when his Leinster Lightning side completed a clean sweep of trophies, Anderson top scored with 440 runs at 48.89 which earned him the Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Player of the Year award.

Anderson also collected the O’Neill’s Club Player of the Year award, scoring 775 runs at an incredible average of 86.11, helping Merrion clinch the Irish Senior Cup.

The Toyota Super 3 series continues to go from strength to strength, and for a series of excellent displays, Eimear Richardson was the judges choice for the Toyota Super 3 Player of the Series award.

Widely regarded as one of Ireland’s top umpires, Paul Reynolds has picked up the IAA Official of the Year Award for after a season which saw the Leinster man continue to impress all observers of the game with his quiet, professional manner.

Fellow Leinster man Rob O’Connor is a deserved winner of the Notts Sports Coach of the Year award. O’Connor has completely revitalised the Women’s section at the Rathmines club, helping all three sides reach their respective cup finals. He is also heavily involved at inter-provincial and international level with Leinster and Ireland Under 15 girls, as well as being one of the Toyota Super 3 coaches.

Cork County are the winners of the Tildenet Club of the Year Award after a superb season for the Munster club in which in addition to winning the Leinster Division Two title, they also retained the Munster Premier Division title.

Herbie Honohan and Eddie Lewis were both honoured for their contributions to Irish cricket, with Honohan being named the Oasis Group Volunteer of the Year and Lewis being presented with the Gibneys Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket award.

Honohan has been instrumental in the growth of youth cricket in Wexford through his coaching efforts, while also playing a vital effort in fund-raising for Wexford Wanderers as the club continues to flourish. Lewis has played a crucial role in the continued growth of Leinster and Irish cricket, with his incredible drive and passion for the game clear for all to see over the past decades.

Former Ireland wicket-keeper Paul Jackson became the 13th inductee to the Cricket Ireland Hall of Fame, which is voted for by the Cricket Writers of Ireland. Jackson joins fellow Irish cricketing legends Simon Corlett, Mike Halliday, Stephen Warke, Ivan Anderson, Gerry Duffy, Ginger O’Brien, Ossie Colhoun, Roy Torrens, Dougie Goodwin, Jack Short, Alf Masood and Alec O’Riordan.

Full List of Award Winners:

KPC Group International Men’s Player of the Year – Ed Joyce
Cricketshop.ie International Women’s Player of the Year – Ciara Metcalfe.
Aengus Fanning Sunday Independent International Emerging Player of the Year – Barry McCarthy
Flogas Junior Player of the Year - Lorcan Tucker
Shapoorji Pallonji Academy Player of the Year - Josh Little
Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Player of the Year – John Anderson
Toyota Super 3’s Player of the Year - Eimear Richardson
O’Neills Club Player of the Year –  John Anderson
Notts Sports Coach of the Year – Rob O’Connor.
IAA Official of the Year - Paul Reynolds
Tildenet Club of the Year – Cork County
Oasis Group Volunteer of the Year - Herbie Honohan
Gibneys Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket Award - Eddie Lewis
Cricket Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame Award - Paul Jackson