O'Hara scoops monthly award

Tuesday 20th August 2002 saw Sligo's Eamonn O'Hara named Vodafone GAA Player of the Month for July and was presented with his trophy by the President of the GAA, Mr Sean McCague at a special lunch event in the Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo.

The new All-Ireland championship qualifier series has thrown up a new batch of heroes and none has made a greater impression than Eamonn O'Hara from Sligo. He has been the inspiration behind their drive to the All-Ireland quarter finals. His skill, stamina and speed were most evident when he led the county to victory against Tyrone to become the Vodafone GAA Player of the Month for July. Eamonn's performance for Sligo on Sunday, against Armagh, showed yet again his unfailing determination and skill.

O'Hara, a full time GAA coach in his native county, has been one of the outstanding footballers in the game for some years but is only recently gaining national attention. He was central to Sligo's good championship run in 2001 and was selected on the International Rules squad to tour Australia last October. It was on that stage that he proved his standing as one of the game's best players with two stirring performances in the tests as the Irish team overwhelmed their Australian hosts.

Eamonn O'Hara, from the Tourlestrane club, first came to prominence on the ground-breaking Benada Abbey team that won the All-Ireland Schools ‘B' title in 1992. At the age of 17 he made his senior debut for Sligo in 1993 and has been a regular with the team since. He played in two Connacht under 21 finals, losing narrowly to Mayo on both occasions and was centre half forward on the Sligo team that reached the Connacht final in 1997.

With nearly ten years under his belt as a senior inter county player, Eamonn shows no signs of slowing down. Through his inspiration and example he has played a pivotal role on the road to the All-Ireland quarter finals for Sligo.