The whispers in the corridors had substance. Brian Kerr was duly presented with the Philips Manager of the Year award by the Minister For Sport, Jim McDaid, in Dublin yesterday for taking the Irish Under-20s to third place at the World Championships in Malaysia in June.
Kerr and his squad ended the prestigious tournament with world powers such as Italy, Germany, England and Brazil trailing in their wake.
"`If you want to know about the train timetables around England, then I'm your man," piped Kerr, in reference to his exhausting efforts to unearth enough talent to piece together a squad for the championships. His quest began as late as February. Time was precious. The squad was eventually brought together in May.
"It was 24 degrees and our lads were walking around wrapped up in big jumpers and raincoats down in Limerick. That was our acclimatisation for Malaysia," said Kerr.
It must have looked like madness, but there was method in it.
Unfortunately, the August winner Eric De Bruin could not attend the ceremony. He was overseeing his wife's preparations for the World Championships in Perth next month. Otherwise, the monthly winners were in attendance. That included Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear, and GAA supremos Ger Loughnane, Paudie O'Shea and Martin McHugh.
The choice of Kerr was well received. This must have pleased the selection committee of Tom Aherne (Cork Examiner), Connie Clinton (The Star), Fred Cogley (RTE), Pat Courtney (Independent Newspapers), Tom Laverty (Belfast Telegraph) and Malachy Logan (The Irish Times).
Monthly Winners. December: Joe Kinnear, Wimbledon (Soccer). January: Anthony Jenkins, Notre Dame (Basketball). February: Joe Kernan, Crossmaglen Rangers (Gaelic Football). March: Joan Morgan, Hermes (Hockey). April: Niall O'Donovan, Shannon (Rugby). May: Paudie O'Shea, Kerry (Gaelic Football). June: Brian Kerr, Ireland Under-20s (Soccer). July: Martin McHugh, Cavan (Gaelic Football). August: Eric De Bruin, (Swimming). September: Ger Loughnane, Clare (Hurling) and Paudie O'Shea Kerry (Gaelic Football). October: Warren Gatland, Connacht (Rugby). November: Tommy Lyons, Offaly (Gaelic Football).
