JIM Gavin has been honoured on the double this week, picking up the coveted ‘Signify Manager of the Month’ for September and also Eirgrid’s inaugural Manager Moment of the Year award.
It comes after Dublin’s All-Ireland Senior Football Final replay win over Kerry on September 14th, as they claimed a never before achieved five-in-a-row of Sam Maguire Cup wins.
Gavin has had a distinguished football career, having won the 1995 All-Ireland SFC as a player.
“I’m just delighted for the players” he said.
“Their true character shone between and during the replay to produce a super performance against an excellent Kerry team”
It’s not the first time for the Round Towers, Clondalkin club man to receive this honour, formerly known as the Philips Sports Manager of the Month award. Gavin picked up the corresponding accolate in 2018, and was Manager of the Year in 2013.
The pilot was also announced as the EirGrid Manager Moment of the Month for September and was up against tough competition for the managerial moment that set him apart from the rest.
Laois’ Eddie Brennan was up for the top title after being awarded the Manager Moment of the Month prize for his team’s win over the Dublin hurlers in July.
Tipperary boss, Liam Sheedy was given the August Manager Moment of the Month award after the superb display his team put on when they won their 28th All-Ireland title, and therefore was also eligible for the top prize.
EirGrid, the state-owned company that develops and manages the flow of electricity across the land, launched the monthly award back in July as a celebration of their fourth year as the Official Timing Partner of the GAA.
The award looks to recognise the contributions of managers and celebrate a specific moment from the Football and Hurling GAA Senior Championship that had the power to light up and capture the public’s imagination.
A panel of GAA experts were on hand to identify and select the managerial moments that stood out across both codes of the Championship and that deserved special recognition. The panel included former Dublin football manager Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey and former Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan.
The selection panel were impressed with Gavin’s decision to change the starting 15 for the All-Ireland Final replay and start Eoin Murchan in place of Michael Darragh MacAuley.
The young Na Fianna player put on a first class performance in defence against the Kingdom and scored a cracking goal within seconds of the second half which ultimately changed the game. The Dubs’ experience became clear as they took control of the final 35 minutes.
Gavin led his squad to another All-Ireland victory and Dublin did what no other team has done in the senior championship before by lifting the Sam Maguire Cup for a fifth year in a row.
