The 42nd Donegal Sports Star Awards are being held in the Mount Errigal Hotel tonight – and we’ll be bringing you all the news as it happens.
All Photos by Geraldine Diver
Main Image: Snooker player John Connors receives the cue sports award from former World champion snooker player Ken Doherty
OVERALL AWARD
THE 2017 DONEGAL SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR: Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett!
The shortlist includes Amber Barrett; Chloe and Sam Magee; Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett; Mona McSharry; Nora Stapleton; and Rhys Irwin
HALL OF FAME: Legendary former Donegal Manager Brian McEniff has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Bundoran man masterminded Donegal’s All-Ireland win in 1992.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
1 – Tyler Toland made history by being capped by Ireland at senior level at just 16 years and 43 days – the youngest ever. She won the Northern Ireland Cup with Sion Swifts and the Galway Cup with Kildrum Tigers.
2 – Edward O’Reilly (St Michael’s). Born with a defect that left him without part of his left hand, O’Reilly is top scorer with St Michael’s and he plays youth soccer for Dunfanaghy and Donegal.
BRENDAN MCDAID MEMORIAL SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: Marty Lynch from Milford Athletic Club won The Race in 2017, a 250km endurance event, described as ‘the race from hell’. He won the coast to coast cycle and the mad adventure race.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Chloe and Sam Magee from Raphoe are honoured for their bronze medal win in Denmark this year.
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS TEACHER: Liz Gordon (Deele College) gets the nod here.
SECONDARY SCHOOL: Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair come out on top for the secondary school award.
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS TEACHER: Christy Gillespie from Scoil Colmcille in Termon is the winner here.
PRIMARY SCHOOL (LARGE): Scoil Mhuire gan Smál of Letterkenny take the prize here.
PRIMARY SCHOOL (SMALL): Scoil Cholmcille, Drumman, Ramelton are honoured in this category.
TEAM: Naomh Colmcille win this award after a historic year in which they won the Donegal and Ulster JFC titles.
APPRECIATION: A joint award shared by Adrian Shiels of St Eunan’s and Laurence Gildea of Bonagee United.
COACH : Mick Coleman of the Finn Valley Vikings Power Lifting Team.
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS GIRL: Mia McCalmont from Abbey VS has completed superbly all across Ireland in 2017 and is an athlete to watch out for.
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS BOY: Conchúr Mac Meanman from Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny. He has emerged as a rugby player of some renown and was capped at U18 level for Ireland.
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS GIRL: Emily Kelly from St Mary’s NS, Stranorlar. She won the Fastest Feet competition and got to compete in New York at the Millrose Games, where she came third!
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS BOY: Athan Doherty from Scoil Colmcille in Letterkenny is the top man here.
TRIATHLON: Jonathan Martin of the Letterkenny 24/7 Triathlon Club wins here. The teenager has been making real progress in the sport. He has excelled, too, for St Eunan’s and Swilly Seals.
TENNIS: Elaine Chambers of the Butt Hall Tennis Club had a massive year and takes it here.
SWIMMING: Mona McSharry of Marlins Swimming Club was the World Junior 100m breaststroke champion in 2017. Mona won three Irish breastroke titles before taking Gold in Indianapolis.
SURFING: Una Britton from Rossnowlagh wins here.
SOCCER: Amber Barrett takes the soccer award. Barrett made her senior Irish debut in 2017 and also was the WNL Player of the Year, lining out for Peamount United.
ROWING: Patrick Boomer of Loughros Point Rowing Club in Ardara is the man to collect this award. The eldest of three brothers, Patrick is a student in London and competed at the Henley Regatta in 2017. He was selected to compete in the World Championships and they were ranked 16th. He is competing in Australia at the moment.
PROFESSIONAL SPORT ACHIEVEMENT: Jason Quigley won his first professional title in 2017 as he defeated Glen Tapia to win the NABF Middleweight title.
POWER LIFTING: Conor Logue from Motiv8 had a superb 2017 and is honoured with this award.
PARA-ATHLETE: The story of Oisin Merritt – the Miracle Man – is well documented and after his amazing comeback to sport, the Ballybofey United player wins this.
MOTOR SPORT: Manus Kelly and Donall Barett are very popular winners here after winning the Donegal International Rally for the second year in a row, following another gruelling, testing and gripping weekend.
MOTOR CYCLING: Rhys Irwin of Kilmacrennan is the winner here. He became the first Irish rider to be nominated twice for the Irish racer of the year. He was selected to take part in the British Talent Cup for 2018.
MARTIAL ARTS: James Burke of the North West Shotokan Karate Club takes this one. James had an exceptional year in going from cadet to senior. He won gold and silver and three bronzes in Serbia and the World Championships. He took two gold, silver and bronze in Scotland.
HURLING: Davin Flynn Donegal has a magnificent 2017. He hit 2-8 when Donegal beat Tyrone in the League final
HOCKEY: Luke Witherow, a former Raphoe player now with Banbridge Hockey Club, scoops this one. He excelled with the Royal and Prior team and represented Ulster. Last August he moved to Banbridge and played in the European Hockey League.
GYMNASTICS: Ella McBride from Dungloe is one of the youngest winners of the night! She trains in Derry and Letterkenny. She has been all over the globe and is just 11 years old.
GOLF: Frank Casey from Rosapenna gets the winning putt here. He was a winner of the Ulster Mid-Ulster Championship.
GAELIC FOOTBALL: Moville sisters Ciara and Niamh Hegarty are the joint winners in Gaelic football. The Hegartys were both All-Stars. The won the Ulster SFC with Donegal and reached the League final.
EQUESTRIAN: Oisin Orr from Rathmullan wins here. He saddled 20 winners in 2017 and was the champion apprentice.
CYCLING: PJ Doogan of Caldwell Cycles takes this award. PJ is from Gorthahork and was in the UCI Road World Championships. He was the only first year junior on the Irish team. He was 10th in the Junior Tour of Ireland and was on the winning team. He also cycled for Ireland.
Back to the awards again…
Ken Doherty played a pool exhibition in Buncrana and says: “The first ten people I played were all Dohertys! I must do my family tree some day. The Dohertys come from Inishowen. They used to hold a gathering of the Dohertys. I must have relations somewhere. Maybe they don’t want to know me.”
Ken Doherty is interviewed by Chris Ashmore
Ken Doherty on winning the World Championship in 1997: “It still gives me goosebumps to look back on it. I grew up watching snooker and I used to dream about that moment. For it to come true, and we all have dreams, it was like one of the greatest days of my life.”
Ken Doherty, the special guest is on the stage to be interviewed by Chris Ashmore…
“There are many unsung heroes in clubs and organisations. They are the lifeblood of the club and the community. They all deserve a round of applause. Without them, we wouldn’t have the calibre of sportspeople we have.” – Councillor Gerry McMonagle.
Councillor Gerry McMonagle, the Mayor of Donegal, is to address the crowd.
We’re about to get back underway again.
Councillor Gerry McMonagle, the Mayor of Donegal, is to address the crowd.
We’re about to get back underway again.
SPECIAL ATHLETE: Anna Hennessy of Letterkenny and Marie McGloin from Ballyshannon are very popular joint winners.
RUGBY: Fahan native Nora Stapleton, who retired from international rugby after the 2017 Womens Rugby World Cup having won 50 caps, is the rugby winner.
Nora Stapleton receives the rugby award from Ken Doherty
DARTS: Milford’s John Flood, who has represented Donegal and Ireland, is the winner here. He won the Con Sean tournament in 2017 and his last defeat in that competition was in 2009.
CUE SPORTS: John Connors of the North West Snooker Club in Letterkenny picks up this award. The Donegal senior champion for the seventh time, he also won the Premier League, winning 35 out of 38 games. He won the North West Cup and was a member of the Irish team that defeated Iceland.
CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING: Gearoid Driver of Raphoe Gun Club was the Donegal champion in a number of disciplines in 2017 and wins this award. A consistent performer, Gearoid beat off some stiff competition.
CAMOGIE: Leanne Kelly from Burt is the camogie award winner. Leanne has had a great 2017. She was the Burt and Donegal senior player of the year. Leanne captained the Donegal minors and the Burt seniors in 2017.
Leanne Kelly receives the camogie award from Ken Doherty
BOXING: Seven nominees for this award and it’s nine-time Irish champion Labhaoise Clarke of Carndonagh ABC who scoops this gong. Labhaoise fights tomorrow in an Irish U22 final in Dublin.
Danny Clarke, father of Labhaoise Clarke, receives the boxing award from Ken Doherty.
BASKETBALL: Ultan O’Grady of the Donegal Town Basketball Club has won this award. A valuable player, he impresses regularly in the League for Donegal Town.
The first awards is ATHLETICS: Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley AC wins the athletics award. A rake of medals flowed for Lecky in 2017 and won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games, among others.
Ken Doherty joins Chris Ashmore onto the stage to present the opening nine awards of the night.
Neil Martin pays tribute to the Donegal County Council, who sponsor these awards, and to the Council’s Director of Communications Ann-Marie Conlon.
Chairman of the Donegal Sports Star Awards committee Neil Martin: “It’s hard to believe that it is a year since Sinead Jennings created history in winning the overall award for the third time.”
MC for the evening Chris Ashmore welcomes the guests to the function. “The fact that these awards are going so many years reflects the depth of sport in Donegal,” he says. “To be nominated is an achievement in itself.”
Former World Champion snooker player Ken Doherty is the special guest for tonight’s function, which will have over 700 guests.
The Dubliner defeated Stephen Hendry to win the 1997 World Snooker Championship and lost out to John Higgins in the final in 1998, while he was back in the final in 2003, when he lost out to Mark Williams.
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