Varun picks up Young Player of the Year award

The Coleraine youngster played a major role both domestically and internationally.

He helped his local team win the NW Premier title, and Ireland collect both the Under 15 and 17 European titles.

The 15-year-old leg-spinner picked up the Castleknock Hotel Junior Player of the Year at a star studded awards ceremony in Dublin on Friday.

Varun, who also won the Junior Sportsman award at last weekend’s Causeway Coast & Glens Sports Awards, played pretty much every game for the new champions and skipper Scott Campbell was lavish in his praise.

“For someone so young he has a great head on his shoulders,” said the Bannsiders captain.

“He picked up some really vital wickets for us this season and one thing I really like about him is that he wasn’t afraid to tell you what he wanted in terms of field placing.

“I’m never keen to ‘big up’ anyone so early in their career as there are enough pressures around but if he keeps doing what he’s doing, Varun has the potential to go a very long way.”

Campbell also picked up an award at the North West Cricket awards last week.

The Coleraine skipper was named Radio Foyle Player of the Year. Campbell was also included in the Team of the Year.

Richie Kelly, the recently retired voice of North West sport handed over the trophy, drawing reference to the fact that the 21-year had enjoyed a phenomenal season with both bat and ball. That added to the fact that Campbell had played a full part in the Warriors’ summer and led his team to the title in his first year as captain, had made him the clear choice.