WICKLOW ANNOUNCED the winners of their GAA sports star awards for 2009 at county convention on Saturday night and the recipients will be presented with those awards at a banquet on January 23 in the Arklow Bay Hotel.

AGB's Ciarán Hyland has been chosen as the county footballer of the year and it's a much deserved honour indeed.

2009 has been a truly great year for the Arklow player, the best of his young life. Ciarán has made the corner-back position on the county team his own in recent years and 2009 was his best year on the inter-county scene. Man marking is his speciality and player that scores off Ciarán certainly earns his meagre return. Ciarán was nominated for a national All Star this year and many people not just from Wicklow would feel that he should have gone the whole way and made the team.

James Stafford from Rathnew is the club footballer of the year for 2009. He returned home from Australia in the spring and immediately bedded into the county team as if he'd never been away.

Wicklow have a history of producing some great midfielders from Moses Coffey right up to Fergus Daly and James Stafford can stand tall with the best of them. He had a great year for club and county in 2009 and got the man of the match award as Rathnew

Ciarán Hyland regained the Miley Cup.

Kiltegan's Jeffrey Bermingham is the county hurler of the year for 2009. A bundle of energy as well as hurling skill on the playing field, Jeffrey has been a great servant of the game at club and county levels over the years. Normally a tight-marking defender, Jeffrey is a player who can turn his hurling talent to most positions on the field and more latterly he has been playing as an attacker with considerable success. He has represented his country at Shinty and has just recently been picked on the Christy Ring team.

Timmy Collins from Carnew is the club hurler of the year. Timmy Collins is one of the second generation of the Collins clan which has given tremendous service to the county as well as Carnew over a long period. A very adaptable player, Timmy has that unique ability to play in the position - backs, forwards or midfield - where the need is most and he made a major contribution to Carnew wresting the Senior hurling title from their great rivals Glenealy.

Other award winners are: Thomas Harney, Dunlavin (Intermediate football); PJ Mulhall, Coolboy (Junior A football); Johnny Groomes, Eire Og Greystones (Junior B football); Damien Devereux, Avoca (Junior C football), Thomas Kelly, St. Patrick's (Minor football), Ciarán Doyle, Newcastle (Intermediate hurling), Billy Cuddihy, Eire Og Greystones (Junior hurling), Tom Cash, Bray Emmets (Minor hurling); Laura Hogan, Knockananna (camogie); Lorna Fuisciardi, Eire Og Greystones (ladies Football); Shauna Hilley, Coolboy (handball); Chris O'Connor McGee, Blessington (club person of the year).

Awards for outside sports person, committee award and Hall of Fame will be announced at the banquet.