There was a great occasion in Togher last weekend as the Portlaoise Rugby Club juvenile awards took place.
Boys and girls from five up to 18 were recognised for their achievements over the 2022/2023 season.
The guest of honour on the night was former Leinster and Ireland player Shane Byrne.
As a hooker, he made 41 appearance for Ireland and 150 for Leinster – scoring three tries for each.
The Pat Kelleher Shield, for the Outstanding Youth Player of the Year, was presented to Dylan Kelly by Club President Harry Nicholls.
Dylan played for the Ireland U-18 Clubs team versus Italy in November and has been selected on the Leinster U-19 squad.
Freya Stanley was presented with the Jimmy Bergin Shield for Overall Youth Girl Player of the Year.
Check out some great pictures from the awards below:
U/16 girls team with coaches Stephen Laffan, Stuart Cooper and Shannon DunneU/16 girls team award winners Kate Lalor Fitzpatrick (Players Player), Erin Fitzpatrick (Most Improved Player) and Gabby (Player of the Year) with Shane Byrne and coaches Stephen LaffanU/16 team award winners Cian Butler (Players Player), Alex Phelan (Player of the Year) and coach Liam Culleton accepting the Most Improved Player on behalf of Tom Fingleton with Shane ByrneU/15 team with Shane Byrne and Club President Harry NichollsU/15 team award winners Darren Maher (Most Improved Player), Fionn Mullen (Players Player) and Eanna Moynahan (Player of the Year) with Shane ByrneU/14 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coach Thomas McCormackU/14 girls team (league and cup winners) award winners with Shane ByrneU/14 girls team (league and cup winners) award winners Molly Kelly (Players Player), Emma Heffernan (Most Improved Player) and Saffron Adams (Player of the Year) with Shane Byrne and Club President, Harry NichollsU/14 team award winners Excel Onosedeba (Most Improved Player), Denis Phelan (Players Player) and Ciaran Dunne (Player of the Year) and with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coach Thomas McCormackU/13 team with Shane Byrne and Club President Harry NichollsU/13 team award winners Charlie Peavoy (Players Player), Donnacha Grogan (Player of the Year) and Darragh Hooban (Most Improved Player) with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry NichollsThe Pat Kelleher Shield, for the Outstanding Youth Player of the Year, being presented to Dylan Kelly by Club President, Harry Nicholls with Shane Byrne. Dylan played for the Ireland U/18 Clubs team versus Italy in November and has been selected on the Leinster U/19 squad
Dylan Kelly (Pat Kelleher Shield winner), Shane Byrne and Bryan Croke (Portlaoise RFC RDO)Koren Dunne presents Freya Stanley with the Jimmy Bergin Shield for Overall Youth Girl Player of the YearAcademy (U/17 and U/18) award winners – U/17s, Nathan Flanagan and Aaron Kingston (Most Improved Players), Eoin Rooney (Players Player), Daniel Thornton (Player of the Year); U/18s, Adam Glynn and PJ Larkin (Most Improved Players), Dara Phelan (Players Player), Matthew Coonan (Player of the Year) with Shane Byrne and Club President Harry NichollsU/12 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coaches Chris Hill, Shane Redmond, Shane OReilly and Sean SmythU/12 girls’s players with Shane Byrne and Club President Harry NichollsU/11 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coaches Darren Mahoney, David Byrne, Alan Gee and Craig InceU/10 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coaches Andrew Gannon, Martin Healion and Gary DelaneyU/9 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coaches Lynn OBrien and Mark DwyerU/8 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coach Jarlath TaylorU/7 team with Shane Byrne, Club President Harry Nicholls and coaches Dom Malone and Ken BradleyKeelan O’Brien and Faye Scully, on behalf of the U/14 girls’ league and cup winners, make a presenatation of Koren DuuneAndrew Gannon presents a ball, signed by Caelan Doris at the Minis festival in the Aviva Stadium, to Club President, Harry Nicholls
