Mayo photographer pulls off a double at major awards

Ballina-based photographer David Farrell pulled off a double at the Federation of European Professional Photographers’ annual awards, which were announced in Prague last week.

The lensman won two prestigious Merit Awards in the Single Images Sports Category with two photographs taken at different sports assignments.

It’s the photographer’s fourth consecutive year to figure prominently in the reputable competition which this year had submissions from over 300 photographers throughout the whole of Europe.

The submissions of all the photographers were examined by a panel of top international judges.

David's two winning photographs are entitled Eye-balling! and Back-hander!

The former was taken at a Mayo senior hurling championship tie involving Tooreen and Castlebar Mitchels in Josie Munnelly Park, Castlebar, and it depicts Tooreen’s Shane Boland focussing intently on the sliothar as it flies past his face.

The second photo shows St. Patrick’s GAA Club player Cathal Finneran spectacularly snatching the ball in one hand as he lands on the back of Kilmeena’s Keith Joyce during the Connacht junior football championship final at Sligo’s Markievicz Park.