McAnepsies, Wexford And Roscommon Shine In Night Of Stars

In a packed Florian Hall last Saturday night, the GAA community of Boston came out in full force to celebrate the achievements of the best home based players for the 2006 season.

On the field old rivalries were forgotten. Competition was put on hold for the night and in its place a sense of co-operation and community was pervasive among the large gathering.

Goodwill and a spirit of camaraderie won out on this particular night. Back to back Senior football champions, Aiden McAnepies received four All Stars, while gallant runners-up Connemara Gaels did well securing three.

Mac's also won the coveted player of the year when their fleet-footed center forward, Colm McCrory won Senior Football Player of the Year.

The rest of the Senior All Stars were shared between Donegal with two, Cork two, and Armagh and Shannon Blues one each.

In Senior Hurling, first time champions Wexford topped the charts with four. Wexford also saw further glory come their way when that great Antrim man and Wexford center back Domnic McGill won the Senior Hurler of the Year award.

Last year's champions and this year runners-up, Tipperary carried off three All Stars on the night while Fr.Tom Burkes did well receiving three.

Galway back from the doldrums of the last few seasons when they could not field a senior team, took two, with Limerick winning one, while Cork who continue to struggle were the only team to lose out on the night.

The rest off the ladies senior awards saw Shamrocks doing very well winning five while Tir na No'g who had a very good year won three.

Pat Callaghan a long time member of the GAA community and Donegal native who had great success with underage teams in the 1970s, and also helped to manage Galway junior football teams to glory was honored on the night by receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.