Rihoy now after elusive Priaulx

A SHOCKED Dave Rihoy could not stop smiling after being named players' player of the year. 'It was a big surprise. I was not expecting it at all,' he said at Wednesday's new-look Cable & Wireless GFA presentation night.

The North winger claimed the top individual accolade in the local game ahead of four other shortlisted nominees.

They included Priaulx League award winner Darragh Duffy, his Bels striking partner Marc McGrath and the Sylvans midfield duo of Steve Brehaut and Matt Warren.

'Winning the Centenary Muratti has to be the highlight,' said Rihoy of a season in which he was also named man of the match in the Ambassadeur Bowl final.

He then made a revelation about the replay and his feeling when it went to a penalty shoot-out.

But, while delighted that his efforts had been recognised by his peers, Rihoy seemed to have even more pleasure in being featured in one of the new aspects of the evening.

As part of the glitzy, revamped format, the award presentations were interspersed with video segments which gave a local slant to features from the popular Soccer AM programme.

When it came to the 'Showboat' section where clips of players displaying a fine piece of skill are shown, the chosen footage was of Jon Veron's last-gasp extra-time equaliser in the Muratti replay.

He had been set up by Rihoy's deft bit of footwork out wide and the player of the year later beamed, 'pretty good, wasn't it?' as if stunned that he was able to produce it at such a critical time.

On the club football front, North fell at the final hurdle in several competitions - finishing as runners-up in the Priaulx League and reaching the Wheway and Fletcher Sports Guernsey FA Cup finals but losing both of them by a single goal.

Rihoy wants to go one step further next time around and would particularly like to add a championship medal to his collection.

'Hopefully, next season will be our season. The boys are back from travelling and hopefully we will be capable of winning the league.

'It will be a very decent competition, though. With the likes of Bels, Sylvans, Saints and Rec around fighting for it, it is going to be very tight.'