IRUPA Awards: Brian O'Driscoll's stellar season has seen him voted the IRUPA Players' Player of the Year. Keith Earls, who came off second best when the two centres faced each other last weekend, was named the Young Player of the Year.

The awards, voted for by Irish rugby professionals, were handed out at a ceremony in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel this evening.

Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris had been short-listed for the senior gong but, having led Ireland to their first Grand Slam since 1948, it came as little surprise that the Ireland captain received the accolade for the first time in his career.

“This award has capped a fantastic season for me so far and also for Irish rugby,” O’Driscoll commented. “This trophy has escaped me for seven years so it’s great to finally get up on stage to collect it as it is the ultimate award in Irish rugby.

“I take great pleasure in winning it as it comes from the people who I respect most, my fellow players.”

Jamie Heaslip’s neat sidestep and turn of pace in the Six Nations against France saw him awarded the try of the season while his Leinster teammate Stan Wright - with 45 45 appearances out of 48 games in the last two seasons – collected the unsung hero prize.

IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2009

Winner: Brian O'Driscoll (Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris)

IRUPA Unsung Hero

Winner: Stan Wright (Rory Best, John Hayes)

IRUPA Hall of Fame

Anthony Foley

IRUPA Try of the Year

Winner: Jamie Heaslip - Ireland v France (Tommy Bowe - Ireland v Wales, Brian O'Driscoll - Leinster v Wasps)

IRUPA Young Player of the Year

Winner: Keith Earls (Darren Cave, Cian Healy)

IRUPA Rugby Supporters Player of the Year

Brian O’Driscoll