Rob Kearney has been named European player of the year for his performances in Leinster’s Heineken Cup triumph, which culminated in their sensational 42-14 victory against Ulster in the final.

The 26-year old came out on top in the battle which included Leinster team-mate Jonathan Sexton, as well as Ireland team-mate Stephen Ferris and South African Ruan Pienaar, who played a major role in Ulster reaching the final of the Heineken Cup.

A number of Aviva Premiership betting tips suggested candidates for the award from the English competition, while Toulon’s Jonny Wilkinson was another who was in contention for the prize after leading the French club to the Amlin Challenge Cup final.

But, after starting all of his side’s matches on their way to the title, scoring six tries along the way, it was Leinster’s Kearney who came out on top to clinch the award, succeeding team-mate Sean O’Brien as Europe’s player of the season.

The full-back says he was delighted to pick up the award, but was quick to praise his Leinster team-mates and management for the role they played in his impressive season.

“It really is an honour to have won this ERC award,” said Kearney.

“While I am delighted with the recognition, an individual player is powerless without the support of his team-mates.”

“So I owe this to the Leinster squad, to the management and to all the backroom staff at the club.”

Having helped to defy several Betfair Heineken Cup tips, Kearney will now head to New Zealand with the rest of the Ireland squad looking to dethrone the reigning world champions in their own back yard.

Taking on the World Cup winning All Blacks in New Zealand would be a tough ask for any team around, buit it will be even harder for this Ireland side, who head Down Under on the back of a disappointing six months.