Dublin manager Jim Gavin has been named Phillips Sports Manager of the Year at an awards ceremony in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel this afternoon.
Gavin saw off competition from Clare hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald, who guided his side to a first All-Ireland title in 16 years, as well as Ireland women's rugby manager Philip Doyle, whose side won a maiden Grand Slam.
Gavin’s treble trumped them and “humbled” the Round Towers clubman, who said “he didn’t expect it”.
Clare's remarkable rise under Fitzgerald, however, while remarkable, was eclipsed by Dublin winning the national league – for which Gavin was honoured with April's monthly award – the Leinster title and finally the All-Ireland, with victory over Mayo in September.
It is the first time a GAA manager has been honoured since Tipperary hurling, under Liam Sheedy, climbed to the top of the mountain in 2010.
The last Gaelic football manager to win the prize was Mickey Harte after Tyrone's took hold of Sam Maguire in 2005.
Along with Harte, Gavin's name now goes beside Mick O'Dwyer (Kerry, 1984), Billy Morgan (Cork, 1990), Peter McGrath (Down, 1991), Brian McEniff (Donegal, 1992), Sean Boylan (Meath, 1999) and Joe Kernan (Armagh, 2002).
