O'Callaghan, Johnston win May awards

Opel GPA Awards : David O'Callaghan and Seánie Johnston are the latest recipients of the respective Opel GPA hurling and football…

Opel GPA Awards: David O'Callaghan and Seánie Johnston are the latest recipients of the respective Opel GPA hurling and football player of the month awards for May after their individual efforts in the opening round of the championships.

O'Callaghan contributed 1-06 to Dublin's cause in their emphatic 3-21 to 0-11 win over Westmeath in the first round of the Leinster hurling championship.

Johnston won the monthly football award for his efforts with Cavan when he continued his good league form by notching up eight points to deny Antrim 1-19 to 1-14 in the preliminary round of the Ulster championship.

"It's always a joy to see a classy marksman firing on all cylinders and Seánie certainly turned on the style against Antrim," said Jack O'Connor, former Kerry manager and chairman of the Opel Gaelic Players Football Selection Committee.

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"Right foot, left foot, from play and from dead balls, acute angles or long distances mattered little to him in Casement Park as he showed remarkable accuracy to finish with eight points, six of which were from play.

O'Callaghan was also highly praised for his efforts with Dublin.

"David O'Callaghan is a naturally-gifted hurler who has the perfect blend of pure skill and electric pace that defenders hate," said Donal O'Grady, chairman of the Opel Gaelic Players Hurling Selection Committee.

"His performance against Westmeath in Dublin's championship opener was a lesson in clinical corner-forward play. He showed real poaching instincts to bag his goal that day and finished with 1-5 from play (1-6 in total) - if he maintains that type of form, Dublin hurlers can look forward to a prolonged summer."