The young stars will shine brightly at awards night

THE next generation of Kilkenny’s football stars will be honoured at their annual awards night this week.

The Springhill Court Hotel is the place to be this Friday as the Kilkenny & District League hosts its end of season bash for all the schoolboys and schoolgirl teams.

League titles, cups and medals will be presented to teams up to under-17 level, with the addition of Player of the Year awards for each league from under-11 upwards. Players from 10 clubs were among the 15 winners this season, with clubs from across the county and beyond represented.

The 2011/12 schoolboys and schoolgirls Players of the Year are:

Under-11 Nolan Jewellers League Division One

George Murphy

Club: Freebooters

School: St Colmkill’s Inistioge

Favourite Team: Liverpool

Favourite Player: Steven Gerrard

Sporting Ambition: To play professional football

Under-11 Nolan Jewellers League Division Two

Cian Franey

Club: Freshford Town

School: St Lachtain’s NS

Honours Won: Under-11 League

Favourite Team: Chelsea

Favourite Player: Juan Mata

Under-11 Nolan Jewellers League Division Three

Eoghan Hogan

Club: Paulstown 06

School: Scoil Brid

Favourite Player: Luis Suarez

Sporting Ambition: To play for Liverpool

Under-12 Glanbia League Division One

Colm Whelan

Club: Thomastown United

School: St Mary’s NS

Honours Won: Under-11 League, Under-12 Cup, Under-13 League

Favourite Team: Arsenal

Favourite Player: Robin van Persie

Under-12 Glanbia League Division Two

Eoghan Doheny

Club: Lions

School: Cullohill NS

Honours Won: Under-12 League

Favourite Team: Barcelona

Favourite Player: Lionel Messi

Sporting Ambition: To hurl in an All-Ireland final

Under-13 Kilkenny People League Division One

David ‘Daithi’ Barron

Honours Won: Under-11 League and Cup

Favourite Player: Frank Lampard

Under-13 Kilkenny People League Division Two

Kyran O’Sullivan

Club: East End United

School: Bennettsbridge NS

Under-14 Bennettsbridge Parts League Division One

Peter Henebry

Club: Evergreen

School: Kilkenny CBS

Honours Won: Under-11 Cup, Leinster Under-12 title with Kilkenny & DL, Under-15 League and Cup

Favourite Team: Manchester United

Favourite Player: Mikey Drennan

Under-14 Bennettsbridge Parts League Division Two

Gary Lawlor

Club: Bridge United

School: Borris VC

Honours Won: Under-15 Cup, Under-15 Community Games Indoor All-Ireland

Under-15 St Canice’s Credit Union League Division One

Aidan Touhy

Honours Won: Under-11 League and Cup, Under-12 Cup, Leinster Under-12 title with Kilkenny & DL Under-13 League, Under-16 League

Favourite Team: Spurs

Favourite Player: Richard Dunne

Under-15 St Canice’s Credit Union League Division Two

Sean Feehan

Club: Deen Celtic

School: Castlecomer Community School

Under-16 TC Tyres League

Gaby Lapuste

Favourite Team: Real Madrid

Favourite Player: Daniel Alves

Sporting Ambition: To play football for as long as possible

Under-17 TC Tyres League

Emmet Nugent

Club: Fort Rangers

School: St Kieran’s College

Honours Won: Under-13 League and Cup, Under-17 League

Under-14 KDL Girls Umbro League

Olivia Nolan

School: Loreto Secondary School

Sporting Ambition: To become a sports physio or referee

Under-16 KDL Girls Umbro League

Nessa Griffin

School: Presentation Convent

Sporting Ambition: To play football as long as possible