2024 Gaelic Football Awards

Awards were chosen at the discretion of Coach Henry Best in conjunction with his highly suspect brain trust.

Most Like Chuck Flood Award: How does one describe Chuck Flood? Chuck is a man who is beloved, respected, and when necessary feared by his peers. He played the game the way the lads in the old country intended it to be played: with cridhe (that’s Irish for heart) and verve. Men want to be him, women want to be with him. He’s retired now and this award is to honor Chuck's memory by recognizing his likeness in a current player.

2024 Winner: Des Norris

A bit about Des: Des is proof that not everyone from Dublin is all that bad. Last year, in his first season on the team and his first season playing organized GAA, Des won Player of the Year as a half-back (folks, that doesn’t happen often). This year, he was named Captain of the Football team. His surname, Norris, comes from the word Norse so it’s safe to surmise that Des has some Irish-Viking heritage in him…a heritage that rears its head every time he has a discussion with a referee.

Said Coach Henry Best: “Des is a clear leader on the team and someone every player is comfortable taking constructive criticism from. The accent lends a lot of credibility to what he says.”

Player of the Year: Simple and to the point, this award goes to the best player on the team this year.

2024 Winner: Marc Massena

A bit about Marc: Marc is the younger and smaller brother of previous POTY award winner Pierre Massena. Marc is known for his speed and for throwing the ball off the back of a Syracuse player two years ago in one of the funnier and stupider black cards you’ll ever see.

This season Marc turned a corner. In prior years, he was always a problem with his raw speed and violent approach to defense. This season he developed into an excellent ball carrier, prolific goal-scorer, and a dad. 

Said Coach Henry Best: “Since I’m not allowed to give it to myself, Marc was the next best option.”

Said Captain Des Norris: “He could probably pass the ball a bit more.”

Most Improved Player: This award goes to the player who has shown the most improvement this season. Sometimes it’s a newer player who turns the corner, sometimes it's a veteran who found another gear.

2024 Winner: Tyler Wilcox

A bit about Tyler: Thanks to a new offseason training regime, Tyler added a valuable attribute to his game: Dad Strength. After years of being a Swiss Army Knife super-sub, this season Tyler emerged from his cocoon a physically aggressive player in the middle of the field. And he saved a ball off the goal-line in the dying moments against Buffalo. Good play, Tyler.

Said Coach Henry Best: “Since I’m not allowed to give it to myself, Tyler was the next best option.”

Rookie of the Year: Every year we have new players. Every year we pick one to hold up as having been the best of the bunch. Some years are better than others: this year was pretty good.

2024 Winner: Harrison Fonzerelli

A bit about Harrison: He’s a giant ginger. He was very aggressive: we like aggression. In his second game ever, he had to start against Buffalo. No easy task, and we won so I’d say he played pretty well.

Said Coach Henry Best: “Since I’m not allowed to give it to myself, Harrison was the next best option…he’s very tall.”

Less Important Awards 

(coach both created and chose the winners for these awards)

Golden Boot(s): This award goes to the leading goal-scorer on the team. 

Winner(s): Brothers Massena; Pierre and Marc

They scored a lot of goals. Could pass a bit more.

Said Coach Henry Best: “Since I’m needed in defense, it’s good these two can make up for all of the goals I don’t get to score.”

Play of the Year: this award goes to the player who made the best or most iconic play of the year. A play worthy of being immortalized in all of our memories.

Winner: Pat Curran 

So, Pat plays goalie but he can’t kick the ball good. He put a kick out right to a Buffalo player. Uh oh. This Buffalo player gets all excited. Pat’s away from the goal. Pat isn’t very tall. He doesn’t look like much of a jumper. The Buffalo player pops a ball in on goal. Turns out, Pat can jump and makes a leaping one-handed save (kicking tee in his other hand). Nice play, Pat.

Irish Viking of the Year: This award goes to the player who showed no mercy on the field.

Winner: Christopher Scotto DiCarlo 

He flattened multiple opposing players including an old man. Viking behavior at its best.

And what a great name.

Comeback Player of the Year: This is for the player who says, “Just when I thought I was out, they dragged me right back in.”

Winner: Mark Adam

Never trust a man with two first names to stay retired, but this one you can trust to take and give a beating every game.

Company Truck of the Year: Pickup trucks are very important. They are necessary to the functioning of the team. This award goes to the player who helps out a lot and lets us use his pickup truck.

Winner: Paddy Loughlin

Also, coach’s personal chauffeur and oyster shucker.