After winning back the Fahy cup in 2015 expectations were high for our Senior team in 2016. Unfortunately, after good wins against Padraig Pearses and St. Brigid’s, we lost out to Boyle and failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the senior championship. Although disappointed, the team regrouped and showed promising character in going on to win the O'Rourke Cup for 2016.

Despite these mixed results, one player managed to maintain a standard of play that was consistently excellent. When he first won this award back in 2006, it was primarily his scoring prowess that caught the eye. Now, several years later he still kicks great scores, averaging six points per championship game this year, and he has matured into a more complete footballer.
He always seems to have time on the ball, he is unselfish with possession and his passing off either hand or foot can be sublime. Operating from midfield this year, he could exert a greater influence on games and exhibited his ability to be in the right place at the right time on numerous occasions.
In the final moments of this year’s clash with St. Brigid’s we can all recall this player diving backwards at full stretch to prevent a last gasp goal. Magic moments like that, tend to underline his career.

Our player of the year has played with Roscommon at Minor, Under 21 and Senior grades for the past ten years. For Roscommon, the bigger the game the better he performs. He was instrumental in winning Roscommon’s 2006 All-Ireland Minor and 2010 Connaught Senior titles.

Off the pitch, he is a gentleman, generous with his time especially when asked to engage with the club’s underage teams. Selected as Senior captain for the upcoming 2017 season, we expect his leadership to be to the fore as we aim to get back to winning ways.

Congratulations to the Clann na nGael Senior Men's Player of the Year 2016, Donie Shine.