Shane Moraghan
MEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP MVP AWARD
The Shane Moraghan Men’s Irish Senior Cup MVP has been awarded since 2019. The trophy is awarded to the outstanding male player at the Irish Senior Cup each year.
Shane was an incredible man and a phenomenal water polo player, an example to any young player setting out to play the sport. He trained harder than anyone to be the best he could be, still competing on the Irish Men’s team at the age of 50, while completing and indeed winning several long distance and high profile outdoor swims such as the English Channel, the 20 Bridge Swim around Manhattan and most recently the Catalina Channel Swim to complete The Triple Crown of outdoor swims.
Shane won his first Irish Senior Cup with Half Moon in 1986 and is the joint record holder having amassed 19 ISC winner’s medals (from 23 finals) between 1986 and 2014.
2019 Cillian Colvin (St Vincents)
2020 Christoper Hodgkinson (Cathal Brugha)
2022 Jonathan Donnelly (Cathal Brugha)
2023 Shane O’Brien (St Vincents)
2024 Shane O’Brien (St Vincents)
Bert O’Brien
WOMEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP MVP AWARD
The Bert O’Brien Women’s Irish Senior Cup MVP has been awarded since 2022. The trophy is awarded to the outstanding female player at the Irish Senior Cup each year.
Bert was a stalwart of the Irish Water Polo Association and an accomplished swimmer. He has contributed greatly to Irish swimming and water polo over many years as an athlete, coach, committee member and all-round advocate for the sport from University and Club level right up to the National and International stage.
Bert was a passionate, empathetic, and honourable man, whose love for water polo was evident in every role bestowed upon him.
2022 Lisa Kelly (St Vincents)
2023 Ciara Franke (St Vincents)
2024 Meabh McGurk (Diamonds WPC)
Colin Hedderman
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Colin Hedderman Memorial Cup has been awarded since 2007 for the Irish Water Polo Young Player of the Year. The trophy is awarded to an outstanding male player in the Irish game who displays great strength, positive attitude, and determination during a match, someone who portrays the characteristics of a great player and sportsman when representing his team.
Colin Hedderman epitomised many of the best qualities in water polo players and indeed in sports persons in general. He was a talented player who played the game hard, but fair. As a hole forward, he took (and no doubt gave) his knocks cheerfully. He never whined, complained or blamed others when things didn’t go his way.
The criteria for the award will reflect the type of player that Colin was. It should be one of the best young players, but most importantly, it should be a player who enjoys his water polo and plays it in the right spirit and with the right attitude.
The best young player of each year will be chosen based on the following selection criteria:
- Excellent water polo skills
- Attitude
- Teamwork
- Sportsmanship
- Determination
2007 Darren McHugh (Guinness)
2008 Stiofan McMahon (Cathal Brugha
2009 Eoin Nolan (St Vincents)
2010 Eoin Doyle (Sandycove)
2011 Adam Caulfield (Corrib)
2012 Sean Kenna (St Vincents)
2013 Conor Johnston (Clonard)
2014 Mark Fitzgerald (Half Moon)
2015 David O’Donnell (St Vincents)
2016 Cillian Colvin (St Vincents)
2017 Keelan Ward (Corrib)
2018 Shane O’Brien (St Vincents)
2019 Max Connolly (Sandycove)
2022 Alex San Emeterio Arenaza (St Vincents)
2023 Kyle O’Kennedy (Corrib)
2024 Fionn Byrne (St Vincents)
Irish U19 Cup Male MVP
2010 Jack Baker (St Vincents)
2011 Adam Caulfield (Corrib)
2012 Ciaran McKeever (Clonard)
2013 Conor Johnston (Clonard)
2014 David O’Donnell (St Vincents)
2015 David O’Donnell (St Vincents)
2016 Cillian Colvin (St Vincents)
2017 Cillian Colvin (St Vincents)
2017 Mark Moran (Corrib)
2018 Shane O’Brien (St Vincents)
2019 Jack Mulholland (Corrib)
2021 Sam O’Dwyer (St Vincents)
2022 Adam Child (St Vincents)
2023 Austin Murphy (Corrib)
2024 Austin Murphy (Corrib)
Irish U19 Cup Female MVP
2021 Ellen Loane (Diamonds)
2022 Eva Ramsey (Cathal Brugha)
2023 Laura Casserly (Tribes)
2024 Laura Casserly (Tribes)
Irish U17 Cup Male MVP
2013 Tiarnan Colvin (St Vincents)
2014 Cillian Colvin (St Vincents)
2015 Michael Murphy (Corrib)
2016 Mark Moran (Corrib)
2017 Caleb Bowden (Clonard)
2018 Mark Cusick (Clonard)
2019 Adam Child (St Vincents)
2020 Luka Sunjic (Corrib)
2022 Niall McSherry (Clonard)
2023 Colm Shaughnessy (Corrib)
2024 Paddy Cunningham Smyth (Corrib)
Irish U17 Cup Female MVP
2023 Rachel Corcoran (Tribes)
2024 Laura Casserly (Tribes)