There was great joy on Thursday night when the name of Ballina RFC's Player of The Year was announced. Shane Clarke was the deserved winner of the award and the news has been greeted with great joy, both near and far.
The Lacken man is a highly-talented prop who is hugely respected by opponents the length and breadth of Ireland. His scrummaging and tackling are of the highest order and his ability to come up with vital scores is second to none.
However, not only is Shane an outstanding rugby player, he is an outstanding man who proudly carries the BRFC crest into battle time after time after time. Shane literally puts his body on the line game after game after game and the announcement confirming him as Player of The Year was greeted with great joy inside and outside the club.
Ballina RFC's Gerry O'Donnell, no stranger to front-row rugby himself, was delighted to see Clarkey getting the deserved accolade.
"I'm delighted for Shane. He's a fantastic rugby player and a fantastic young fella. He never takes a backward step and I'm absolutely delighted for him and his family tonight."
Congratulations Shane from everyone in Heffernan Park and our members and friends all around the world.