Echo Sport Awards 2018: ‘I came out of there feeling ten feet tall’
PADDY ENNIS, Vice Chairman of Kilnamanagh AFC, was named The Echo Sports Volunteer of 2018 after 38 years of service to his soccer club Kilnamanagh AFC.
He managed teams from Under 7 right through to Under 18 and his efforts were crucial in helping secure the development of their superb pitch in Ned Kelly Park some years ago.
Kilnamanagh AFC's Vice Chairman, Paddy Ennis, pictured with The Echo 2018 Sports Volunteer of the Year Award
And his day-to-day work with the club, which is celebrating 40 years this year, has been priceless in taking the club to where it is today.
Indeed, Kilnamanagh currently caters for no less than 21 schoolboy, seven schoolgirl and three senior teams and Paddy also praised the efforts of the club committee in helping maintain such a strong membership.
Speaking after he had scooped the Volunteer Award in the 2018 Gala Night in the Green Isle Hotel, Paddy said “I was over the moon. It was a fabulous night and I came out of there feeling ten feet tall.
“You don’t realise the amount of great people and talent we have in the area.
“I saw Graham Shaw picking up the Manager of the year Award on RTE as he did at The Echo Awards.
“You had Stephen Kenny there and the two Dublin managers [Mick Bohan and Shane Plowman], Martin Loughran of Crumlin United – I’ve known him for years- and that girl, Rhasidat, who won the Sports Star of the year- she’s just amazing
“Just to be in the company of so many great people, it was absolutely fabulous. It was a brilliant night,” he said.
