 D'Arcy gets his award from BBC Sport Interactive's Jim Stokes |
Gordon D'Arcy's season came to a winning closure when he lifted the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland player of the year award on Wednesday. It is a double for Ireland's Triple Crown hero who last month was named Irish players' player of the year.
Munster side Shannon won the club of year while Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan was honoured with the Tom Rooney Memorial Trophy.
Noel Murphy and Bill Mulcahy were inducted in the Hall of Fame.
Also picking up special awards were national team captain Brian O'Driscoll and number eight Anthony Foley who made their 50th appearances for Ireland last season.
But this has been D'Arcy's season after pipping Paul O'Connell for the big prize.
D'Arcy flirted with international rugby as a teenager back in 1999 before dropping out of the limelight. He even failed to make Ireland's World Cup squad in Australia.
But after brilliant performances for Leinster playing out of position in midfield, he was fast-tracked into the Ireland side for the Six Nations.
The Dubliner was voted the player of the RBS Six Nations in a BBC poll when he again pushed O'Connell into second place.
He even overshadowed his skipper O'Driscoll, and his two tries against Scotland helped bring the Triple Crown to Ireland for the first time since 1985.
It was that glory that helped coach O'Sullivan his award. The Munsterman has seen an upturn in fortunes for Ireland since he took over from Warren Gatland at the end of December 2001.
Ireland have only lost once in Ireland since his promotion and that was against England in their Grand Slam glory in 2003.
But beating the World champions at Twickenham this season did not do O'Sullivan's coaching career any harm.
Ireland have finished runners-up in the last two Six Nations campaigns.
Shannon, meanwhile, swept the boards this season. They won the All-Ireland Division One title, the Munster Senior League title and the Munster Cup for the fifth successive season.
Meanwhile, Murphy and Mulcahy were two former Lions stars who have given much to Irish rugby.
Murphy won 41 caps, and like Mulcahy, captained his country and twice toured with the Lions.
Murphy is Ireland's representative on ERC and the International Rugby Board and is part of a unique family which has seen grandfather, father and son play international rugby for their country.
MMIX
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