THE Silver Jubilee awards for players who figured in the All Ireland club football and hurling championships over the past 25 years were presented by the president of the GAA, Jack Boothman, at a ceremony in Dublin last night. The awards were sponsored by Allied Irish Bank and the recipients included some of the best known players in the country.

Special awards were also presented to Wicklow's Tommy Murphy and Tipperary's Len Gaynor for their contribution to the coaching and promotion of the games.

Cork clubs dominated the awards, with 10 hurlers or footballers honoured. Kerry had five players on the football team.

Kilkenny were ahead in the Leinster hurling honours with four players, while Dublin (2), Wicklow (2), Wexford, Laois and Kildare had one each.

Conor Hayes and Joe Cooney were the only Connacht winners, while Neil Patterson from the Loughiel hurling team in Antrim was the sole Ulster winner.