The summer months are always chock-a-block with action as all codes in the GAA are in full swing, so sifting through the myriad to find our monthly Merit Award winner can be an onerous task. Many names and actions will always fight for recognition and many opinions will, always, be put forward.
Everyone will have an opinion and they must all be respected. Anyhow, after much deliberation, the July gong fell in favour of Niall Grimley, the 6’2” Armagh midfielder from Madden. He played with the Orchard County in two All-Ireland Championship qualifying games during the month and tossed over nine points during the team’s defeats of Westmeath and Tipperary.
Not bad going for a midfield man. The high-fielding Niall is just as adept at rifling the ball over the bar from both play and free-kicks, mostly long range scores. However, it wasn’t only for his scoring ability that he gets the July award as he also displayed pin-point ‘advantage’ passing and performed support runs up into attack.
When notified of being the July Merit Winner, Niall expressed surprise. “I never expected to receive that honour but, of course, I am delighted with the award,” said the Data Input Manager.
Hopefully, the award goes some way to easing the pain of defeat by Tyrone in the championship during August.
Last season, Grimley played a major role in helping his club, Madden, to Intermediate Championship honours in Armagh, only weeks after making his county senior debut in the Dr McKenna Cup.
At a function in Quinn’s Corner, Donaghmore, attended by various family and Madden GAC members, Niall was presented with his award of an engraved Belleek Living vase, specially designed silver cuff links compliments of Carlingford Design House and training gear from O’Neill’s International Sportswear. Quinn Products Antrim and Down representative Paddy Murray made the presentation.
To get the award, Niall Grimley had to fight off nominations for Declan McClure (Tyrone), Kieran Hughes (Monaghan), Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone) and Jamie Clarke (Armagh). Special mention for Padraig Hampsey, Fintan Kelly and Conor McCarthy was also recorded.
