Sports Awards 2015 Supplement

Wednesday January 27 2016

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That’s my boy: proud mum Teresa with son Michael Conlan, the 2015 Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year KELVIN BOYES/ PRESS EYE

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HAT a stunning year 2015 was for Northern Ireland sport. At home and abroad, our stars excelled, making it a memorable and magical 12 months.

All the achievements were celebrated at the B e l f a s t Te l e g r a p h Sports Awards, sponsored by Linwoods.

The Ramada Plaza Hotel was packed with sporting greats from various fields saluting the incredible success of our talented teams and individuals.

For more pictures from the Sports Awards go online at: belfasttelegraph. co.uk

By Steven Beacom Rightly regarded as the most prestigious sports awards in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards ceremony was taking place for the 21st year, with brilliant boxer Michael Conlan taking home the top prize of a fantastic evening.

Conlan, with proud parents Teresa and John in attendance, was crowned our Sports Star of the Year to complete what has been a remarkable and history-making 12 months for the Belfast bantamweight.

In 2015, he qualified for the Rio Olympics, became European Cham-

pion and was the first Irish boxer to win a World Amateur title.

Many other local sporting heroes were honoured, including former Northern Ireland skipper and current Republic of Ireland manager, Martin O’Neill, who was inducted into the Belfast Telegraph Hall of Fame.

He was also delighted to hear that Northern Ireland’s 1-0 victory over Spain in the 1982 World Cup had been voted the country’s greatest sporting moment by the public.

Other greats from that success in Spain, Pat Jennings, Gerry Armstrong and Jimmy Nicholl, who received wonderful receptions from the 500-strong crowd, were also overjoyed by the results of our online poll.

It was an outstanding night for Northern Ireland football boss, Michael O’Neill (left), who was named Manager of the Year for guiding his side to the Euro 2016 finals.

The squad won Team of the Year and skipper Steven Davis was awarded the Malcolm Brodie Player of the

Year prize. There were Special Recognition awards for record-breaking Crossmaglen Rangers goalkeeper, Paul Hearty, and young golfing prodigy, Olivia Mehaffey. Top Paralympian Michael McKillop clinched the Sports Person with a Disability award and World Handball champion, Aisling Reilly, took the Local Heroes trophy.

Teenage swimming sensation, Conor Ferguson, was the Young Player of the Year, while the successful NI Commonwealth Youth Games squad won the Young Team of the Year gong. Ulster and Ireland rugby hero, Iain Henderson, won the George Best Breakthrough award, with Danny O’Connor named recipient of the WJ ‘Paddy’ Patterson Award.

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BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2016

A SPORTING NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Sport NI’s Richard McCormick and Les Kiss

Siobhan O’Sullivan, Barra Best and Ruth Gorman

Rugby star Tommy Bowe Richard McClean, managing director, Belfast Telegraph; Pamela Ballantine and Brian Henning, chairman, Sport NI

Belfast Telegraph Editor Gail Walker and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness MLA pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards sponsored by Linwoods 2015 at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast

It was a really wonderful night when Northern Ireland sport was celebrated Gail Walker, Editor of the Belfast Telegraph

Erin Cassidy, Julia McCann, Ella Rourke, Eile Bradley, Cara Gordon and Michela McAvoy Top, Telegraph Sports Star of the Year Michael Conlan with Coach of the Year Michael O’Neill and Hall Of Fame entrant Martin O’Neill. Above, Cool FM presenter Pete Snodden, Bolton boss Neil Lennon and Belfast Telegraph Sports Editor Steven Beacom

Michael Conlan with his mum Teresa and dad John

Pat Jennings and Des O’Neill, Michael O’Neill’s father Title sponsor

Juanita, Simon and Tiffany Brien at the awards night

Eileen Logan and Debby Armstrong and (right) co-hosts Jackie Fullerton and Claire McCollum

Sarah Shimmons, Linwoods head of marketing and Pamela Ballantine

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For more pictures from the Sports Awards go online at: belfasttelegraph. co.uk

Title sponsor

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HEY say that, to win like a champion, you must first ‘train like an athlete, sleep like a baby and eat like a nutritionist’ and, at Linwoods, we can certainly help with that final piece of the sporting jigsaw.

For more than half a century Linwoods, based in the heart of the Orchard County of Armagh, has been synonymous with wholesome Irish foods.

In recent years we have expanded our business to create the internationally acclaimed Linwoods Health Food product ranges. Today our natural healthy seeds and berries are exported right around the world, delivering benefits to all sorts of people who want a healthy lifestyle. Now, as we enter ‘2016: Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink’, we look forward to the further expansion of that export market and further development of our product ranges in Premium Bakery and Fresh Dairy, as well as our Health Foods division.

Healthy eating is of course at the heart of building the strength and stamina which are vital for sporting success. That’s why so many of our sportspeople already choose to make Linwoods seeds and berries an integral part of their train-play-succeed regime. It’s also why our six-year association as title sponsor of the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards is such a natural and successful one.

Our congratulations go not only to the winners of the 2015 Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, but also to all those who were short-listed for the accolades.

Their energy, determination and commitment to sport have inspired us all and we at Linwoods wish them continued success in 2016 and beyond.

Sarah Shimmons, Head of Marketing, Linwoods

NOMINEE: Carl Frampton FRAMPTON followed up his IBF super-bantamweight world title win in 2014 by successfully defending his belt twice in 2015.

He finished off American Chris Avalos inside five rounds in Belfast before being taken all the way by Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez Jnr, winning on a unanimous points decision.

NOMINEE: Sir Tony McCoy THE Moneyglass jockey retired in 2015 and went out at the top, winning his 20th successive Champion Jockey title in his 20th year as a professional. His total of 231 winners in the 201415 season was the fifth highest of his career. McCoy was also knighted in the New Year Honours list.

NOMINEE: Jonathan Rea REA’S first season competing for Kawasaki in the Superbike World Championship turned out to be his best yet. The Ballyclare rider won the first race of the season in Australia last February and kept on going throughout the year, winning 16 out of 26 races and only failing to make the podium twice as he became the world champion.

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Michael Conlan is presented with his Sports Star of the Year trophy by Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister, Gail Walker, Belfast Telegraph Editor, and Sarah Shimmons, head of Marketing from title sponsors Linwoods

SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR WINNER: Michael Conlan

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ICHAEL Conlan pointed to the inscription on his trophy. It read: Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year. Beside him was his great mate Paddy Barnes.

The world champion amateur boxer was joking with Paddy that he had won the big one at the awards ceremony they both regularly attend.

The Belfast boxers have both collected a host of trophies at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards over the years, but this was the first time either had won the top prize of the night.

Northern Ireland sport’s best — and funniest — double act will go to Rio this year believing they will come back with gold medals.

On stage Conlan said: “When we both win gold medals in Rio, maybe me and Paddy can share the top prize at the Belfast Telegraph awards next time around.”

Conlan is as engaging out of the ring as he is talented in it. He impressed the packed house at the Ramada Plaza Hotel as he told co-host Claire McCollum about his confidence for the year ahead.

“I wish I was going to Rio tomorrow because I believe when I get there I will win gold.

Every morning I wake up thinking that I am going to get that gold medal around my neck.”

The confidence is not misplaced.

Bantamweight Conlan is the best in the world right now.

He showed that in 2015. After

NOMINEE: Joel Cassells CONQUERING Europe wasn’t enough for Ballymoney rower Cassells in 2015, he went on to add World Championship gold. The 21-year-old added his name to Coleraine Rowing Club’s record of success when he partnered club colleague Peter Chambers to a gold medal at the European Championship in Poland. Cassells then became a World champion when along with British teammate Sam Scrimgeour they won the lightweight pairs gold medal in France.

qualifying for the Olympics, he became the European champion and then rounded off a spectacular year by creating history when claiming the World Amateur title. He was the first Irishman to do so beating Murodjon Akhmadaliev from Uzbekistan in the final.

Not for the first time in his career, the 2012 Olympic bronze medal winner and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion used his skill and speed to emerge victorious.

When he is at his brilliant best, Conlan is a joy to watch.

There is a sense though that he is far from reaching his peak.

That should come when he hits the professional ranks after the Olympics.

What a prospect that will be.

For now though Conlan will train hard for Rio feeling that he will come home from Brazil with more golden treasure.

No one at the 2015 Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards would doubt him for a second.

NOMINEE: Steven Davis THE Northern Ireland captain was hugely influential as the team qualified for the Euro 2016 finals. As well as inspiring his teammates with his quiet, but effective style of captaincy, Davis weighed in with the goals that clinched qualification for France, scoring twice in the penultimate qualifier against Greece at Windsor Park. The 31-year-old made it three international goals within a month when he grabbed the only goal in a friendly victory over Latvia in November.

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BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2016 Michael O’Neill receives his award from Richard McClean, managing director of the Belfast Telegraph, and Neil Lennon, the manager of Bolton Wanderers

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MANAGER/COACH OF THE YEAR WINNER: Michael O’Neill

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E led Northern Ireland to the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group and now Michael O’Neill is the top coach in the country.

The 46-year-old has managed to do what no other man has ever done, by taking Northern Ireland to a European Championship finals.

Since that was achieved back in October the praise and plau-

Clockwise from top: Michael O’Neill with parents Des and Patricia at the awards night. Sarah Shimmons, O’Neill and Paddy Barnes; Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis and O’Neill celebrate topping their group

dits have been flowing in O’Neill’s direction, with the Belfast Telegraph’s Coach of the Year Award being fully deserved.

O’Neill’s achievements as Northern Ireland manager mean he will forever be held in the same high esteem as the great Peter Doherty and Billy Bingham — the only other men to take the country to the finals of a major championships.

O’Neill was presented with his award at the gala ceremony in Belfast’s Ramada Hotel by Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon, who spoke in glowing terms about his former international colleague’s achievements.

Michael’s parents Patricia and Des were also there to share his success, something which thousands of Northern Ireland fans will do when they travel to France in June, where the team will face Poland, Ukraine and world champions Germany.

NOMINEE: Shirley McCay SHIRLEY McCay’s first season as coach of the Ulster under-18 boys’ hockey team brought tremendous success, winning two pieces of silverware. No stranger to success on the pitch as the current most-capped female Ireland hockey international, she led the boys to gold at the Sainsbury’s School Games in Manchester. What made it even better was that they beat England 5-0 to secure the triumph. They also won the Interprovincial title for the first time since 2010.

NOMINEE: Fergal Logan FEARGAL Logan’s place in Tyrone GAA history was already secure, after winning two Ulster titles as a player, as well as reaching the All-Ireland final in 1995. Now he can add the All-Ireland Under-21 title to that after inspiring the Red Hands’ youngsters to glory in 2015 as coach. Tyrone had to come from behind in a thrilling final against favourites Tipperary to secure a narrow 1-11 to 0-13 victory and win a first All-Ireland Under-21 title since 2001.

NOMINEE: Stephen Baxter AFTER winning the Co Antrim Shield, League Cup and Irish Cup in previous seasons, Stephen Baxter completed the set in 2015 by leading Crusaders to their first Irish League title in 18 years. A player in the 1997 title-winning team, the success was 10 years in the making under Baxter, who brought the club out of the First Division in 2006.

After being runners up in 2013 the Crues won the league by 10 points, losing just six times in 38 games and scored 93 goals along the way.

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For more pictures from the Sports Awards go online at: belfasttelegraph. co.uk

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ITTLE Northern Ireland shocked the world one Friday night in June 34 years ago. It is no shock, however, that the 1-0 win over Spain in the 1982 World Cup finals has been voted as the country’s greatest ever sporting moment.

Belfast Telegraph readers chose the famous victory in Valencia, when Gerry Armstrong scored the winner and one of the most talked about goals in history.

Martin O’Neill is inducted into the Hall of Fame and presented with his trophy by football legends Pat Jennings, Gerry Armstrong, Michael O’Neill, Neil Lennon and joined by Chris Nelmes, centre manager of category sponsor The OUTLET Banbridge

Clockwise from above: World Cup 1982 Northern Ireland team; (front row from left) Pat Jennings, Jimmy Nicholl, Gerry Armstrong, Dave McCreery, Sammy McIlroy and Martin O’Neill; (back row from left) Chris Nicholl, Norman Whiteside, Mal Donaghy, John McClelland and Billy Hamilton, a young Martin O’Neill; O’Neill while manager of Celtic, with Jackie Fullerton

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: Martin O’Neill

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had been voted Northern Ireland’s greatest ARTIN O’Neill was in wonderful sporting moment by the public. form. Enjoying the company of his old Northern Ireland teamUp against nine other iconic moments in mates Pat Jennings, Gerry ArmNorthern Ireland’s sporting history, the sucstrong and Jimmy Nicholl from cess over the Spanish in Valencia came out the 1982 World Cup, the Republic of Ireland on top in a Belfast Telegraph online poll. boss was recalling hilarious stories of At the awards ceremony Armyesteryear. strong told the tale of how The 63-year-old was in his elO’Neill predicted what would ement and it was good to see. happen against Spain. It’s A few hours before in the that sort of vision and inRamada Plaza Hotel, Martin sight which has helped had been genuinely touched Martin have a marvelto be inducted into the Hall lous career, both as of Fame at the Belfast Telea player and mangraph Sports Awards. ager.

What pleased him as much Interviewed as the award was receiving it by co-host Jackie from two of his favourite people Fullerton, O’Neill and previous Hall of Fame inductlooked back on his life ees — goalkeeping great Jennings in football and how he and legendary striker Armstrong. Martin O’Neill stripped started out as a young“To be on the same stage as Pat, out for Distillery ster with Irish League one of the best goalkeepers of all side Distillery. time, and Gerry, who had such a He spoke about wonderful World Cup in 1982, means a great the glory days at Nottingham deal to me. To get this award is a real honForest, where under the ‘geour. I am really thrilled,” said O’Neill. nius Brian Clough’ O’Neill The Kilrea man was an inspirational skipwon two European Cups, a per for Northern Ireland in the early Eightleague championship and ies, captaining the side on that epic night League Cup. when hosts Spain were defeated 1-0 in the And in a fascinating World Cup 34 years ago. discussion he reflected on the magical times O’Neill, Jennings, Armstrong and Nicholl with Northern Ireland, were delighted to hear that famous victory

when the team won two British Championships and qualified for the World Cup. O’Neill stated that playing was more enjoyable than managing, revealing that Clough had told the Forest players never to become a boss.

Thankfully O’Neill moved into management and has proved to be a huge success.

He remains a hero at Leicester City and Celtic for steering both clubs to multiple trophies. O’Neill’s efforts at Aston Villa and Sunderland were not appreciated as much as they should have been and now he is manager of the Republic of Ireland, who he has guided to the Euro 2016 finals.

Northern Ireland will also be there with their inspirational boss Michael O’Neill.

Along with Bolton boss Neil Lennon, who played for Martin at Leicester and Celtic, he paid warm tribute to the Co Londonderry man at the ceremony. And Sir Tony McCoy, the finest jockey of all time, sent a lovely video message to Martin saying nobody deserved to be in the Hall of Fame more. AP was right. O’Neill belongs with the very best.

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I am really thrilled to go into the Belfast Telegraph Hall of Fame Martin O’Neill

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BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2016 Steven Davis’ father David collects the Player of the Year award on his son’s behalf from rugby legend Stephen Ferris and Rajesh Rana, Director of category sponsor Ramada Plaza

PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNER:

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Steven Davis

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Northern Ireland’s Steven Davis

T’S safe to say that while Kyle Lafferty scored seven goals in nine games during the qualifying campaign, Northern Ireland wouldn’t be going to the Euro 2016 finals in France this summer had it not been for influential skipper Steven Davis.

The heartbeat of the team, Davis pulled the strings throughout the campaign before he really came to the fore when it mattered most.

With Lafferty missing through suspension, Davis took on the goalscoring responsibility as he netted not once, but twice in the penultimate qualifier against Greece at Windsor Park as Michael O’Neill’s team clinched their trip to France.

It was an emotional night for Davis too as after his first goal he pointed to the sky in tribute to his late mum and biggest fan Laura, who passed away in 2008. He later dedicated his two goals to her in a moment that tugged on the heartstrings of the entire Northern Ireland sporting public.

After having previously scored five international goals in 10 years the 31-year-old made it three within a month when he grabbed the only goal in a friendly victory over Latvia in Belfast.

As if all of that wasn’t enough to win him the Malcolm Brodie Player of the Year, there was more to come from the Southampton midfielder.

He didn’t find the net at all during the 2014-15 season, but really discovered his goalscoring touch in the autumn of 2015.

In the Premier League he scored against Chelsea in a magnificent 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and again in a 2-0 home derby victory over Bournemouth during a purple patch in which he hit five goals in eight games for club and country.

“It is fantastic to win the Malcolm Brodie Player of the Year award. It feels even more special because it is across all sports,” said Davis.

“I remember being at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards 10 years ago when I won the George Best Breakthrough prize. That night Rory McIlroy won the Young Player of the Year award.

“It is fantastic that Northern Ireland as a whole is doing so well in different sports around the world and we are so pleased that the football team could deliver for the people as well.”

As if 2015 wasn’t special enough, there is plenty more for Davis and his Northern Ireland team mates to look forward to in 2016 as they prepare to face Poland, Ukraine and current world champions Germany at the Euro 2016 finals, with the goal of making it into the last 16.

“Qualifying for Euro 2016 was incredible for everyone — Michael, the players and the fans,” said Davis.

“It was an emotional night that we all enjoyed and now we’re looking forward to the country’s first major tournament in 30 years. We aren’t going to make the numbers up. We’re going to make an impact and although we are in a tough group, our aim is to reach the knockout stages.”

NOMINEE: Caroline O’Hanlon ONE of Northern Ireland’s most versatile sportswomen, Caroline just keeps racking up the achievements, with 2015 another standout year. As captain of the Ulster Ladies gaelic football team she led the team to a fourth successive inter-provincial title and won the Division 2 title with Armagh.

All that helped her claim an eighth All Star award. In addition she is also Northern Ireland’s most capped netball player and won bronze at the European Championships.

NOMINEE: Kyle Lafferty KYLE Lafferty started 2015 with a bang when he scored twice in five minutes as Northern Ireland beat Finland 2-1 at Windsor Park to strengthen their push for Euro 2016.

He carried that form into the autumn and in a pivotal September double-header, Lafferty’s crucial goal in the Faroe Islands secured a 3-1 victory and his last-gasp strike in the 1-1 draw at home to Hungary all but sealed qualification with two games to go, taking his tally to seven goals in eight games.

NOMINEE: Eugene Magee EUGENE Magee will never forget 2015 after success at local, national and international level.

The Banbridge captain became the first player to win 200 caps for Ulster and also led his club to domestic domination by winning the Ulster Premier League and Kirk Cup and then followed that up by winning the Irish Senior Cup for the first time in 29 years.

This summer he’ll represent Ireland at the Rio Olympics after a successful qualification.

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C Young Player of the Year Conor Ferguson is presented with his trophy by Dame Mary Peters and Arthur Scott, Sport NI Interim Chief Executive

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNER: Conor Ferguson

ONOR Ferguson, the new Belfast Telegraph Young Sports Star of the Year, is thrilled to kick off 2016 with another accolade having scooped a plethora of medals in 2015.

Ferguson is aiming for another 12 months of glory in the pool and little wonder as the 16-yearold is currently ranked the third fastest backstroker in the world in his age group.

The Carrickfergus teenager, who swims for Larne, caught the eye in 2015 when winning 100m backstroke gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa as well as silver in the 100m and 50m backstroke. This came on the back of two silver medals at the European Youth Olympics.

Arguably even more impressively, at the World junior championships he placed 11th, 12th and 13th in the backstroke events — going up against many swimmers who were older than him.

“To be the third fastest in the world at the moment is really special, it shows me where I am

and what I need to do to get to where I want to be and that is to be the number one swimmer in the world, to be the fastest,” said Conor, a pupil at BRA. “I know that is not going to be easy but I believe that I can get there. At the World championships in Singapore I could see what the other guys were like and I know that I need to improve my starts because on top of the water I am faster than the other guys my age so that’s an obvious thing to work on.

“The top two 1999 guys were on the podium in Singapore ... the Spanish guy who beat me twice at he European Youth Olympics when I won my silver medals was one of them.”

Apart from dealing with his GCSE exams, the Ulster junior and senior record holder will be aiming for medals at the European junior championships in Hungary this July.

Then he will sit back and watch the swimming at the Olympics in Rio — with the belief that in four years’ time he will be competing in Tokyo.

NOMINEE: Patrick Huston PATRICK Huston struck gold in 2015 and also set the bar high in his quest to reach the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The 19-year-old shot to success at the Indoor Archery World Cup in Morocco, winning the Recurve event, beating 2014 champion Matteo Fissore of Italy. Patrick equalled his personal best score of 588 in qualifying for the knock-out stages of the European Indoor Championships in Nimes.

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NOMINEE: Tom McKibbin NORTHERN Ireland has another young golfing star in the making.

He may only be 12-years-old, but Tom McKibbin has already emulated his hero, Rory McIlroy, by winning the World Junior Golf Championship at Pinehurst. He went on to claim more titles including the Junior Masters, PGA and the Irish Junior Open.

NOMINEE: Olivia Mehaffey OLIVIA Mehaffey’s list of achievements on the golf course just keeps growing. Her biggest triumph in 2015 came in the form of a staggering 16 shot victory in the BMW Junior Championship.

The Banbridge teenager also won the Irish Open, the Scottish and Welsh Ladies Championships and played in the Junior Solheim Cup.

NOMINEE: Assumption GS THE girls from Assumption Grammar School saw their medal collections grow during an impressive 2015. The Ballynahinch school’s Senior Netball Team won the Northern Ireland Senior Schools Cup and League as well as the SEELB League title and capped it off with victory in the Sol Sports Invitational in Gibraltar, which they also won in 2009.

Representatives from the Commonwealth Games Youth Team Conor Ferguson, Danielle Hill, Ben Fisher, James McGivern and Robert McVeigh collect their award from Ireland rugby star Tommy Bowe and Muriel O’Grady, chair of the SUBWAY Ireland Marketing Board and franchisee

YOUNG TEAM OF THE YEAR WINNER:

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Youth Team

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HE Northern Ireland Commonwealth Youth Games Team returned from the 2015Games in Samoa with a lot more in their luggage than when they left.

Although only 16 competitors represented Northern Ireland, they produced a series of outstanding performances and came home with 12 medals, which led to them being selected as Young Team of the Year at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards.

As usual for Northern Ireland on the Commonwealth stage, the boxers led the way when it came to medalling.

There were three gold medals in total in the ring with Stephen McKenna coming out on top in the light flyweight division, James McGivern taking the bantamweight honours, and Aidan Walsh standing at the top of the podium after his success

at light welterweight. Two other boxers from Northern Ireland, Brett McGinty and Tiernan Bradley, came back home with silver medals from the welterweight and lightweight divisions respectively.

There was success in the swimming pool, too, with one of many highlights during the games being Conor Ferguson winning the 100m backstroke gold.

Conor is now rated as the third fastest backstroker in the world at his age group, which given the intense competition in the sport, is incredible.

There were also medals on the athletics track and bowling green.

These fantastic achievements are very impressive, especially with the high level of competition on show, and these wins can be used as stimulant for future triumphs on the national stage.

NOMINEE: County Antrim THE boys from the Co Antrim Milk Cup team made history in 2015 when they became the first county team to win the top prize at the prestigious youth tournament. They had to do it the hard way though, beating Mexican side Club America 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to win the Premier section after a 1-1 draw.

NOMINEE: Ulster Hockey u18 THE Ulster under-18 boys hockey team ruled the roost at home in 2015. They also achieved success further afield. They completed a clean sweep of victories in an unhindered march to the under-18 Inter-provincial title and enjoyed a 5-0 win over England at the Sainsbury’s School Games in Manchester.

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BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2016

Michael O’Neill and assistant coach Jimmy Nicholl collect the trophy from champion cyclist Martyn Irvine and Patrick Woods, director of Linwoods

TEAM OF THE YEAR WINNERS: Northern Ireland

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HEN the Green and White Army of Northern Ireland fans welcomes the team onto the big stage at the Euro 2016 finals in France this June it will be the reward for their outstanding year in 2015.

A year littered with firsts.

The nerve-jangling climax to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign sealed the greatest achievement in a generation for the country’s footballers and also Northern Ireland’s first ever qualification for a European Championship finals.

Michael O’Neill’s team played nine official internationals during the years — as well as a behind-closed-doors friendly against the Republic of Ireland in June.

After a friendly defeat at the hands of Scotland in March, Northern Ireland then went eight games unbeaten, the first time that has happened in a calendar year.

That run took the team to France, with qualification sealed with a 3-1 win over Greece in October, which followed victories against Finland and the Faroe Islands, plus draws with Romania and Hungary.

There was another draw in the final game of the series in Finland, which was enough to secure top spot — not only the first time that Northern Ireland have ever topped a qualifying group, but also the first time that a team rated among the fifth seeds had finished in first place.

Spearheaded by Kyle Lafferty, who scored seven goals in nine appearances during the qualifying campaign, Northern Ireland also had captain Steven Davis to thank for getting them over the line, with the skipper hitting two goals in that win against the Greeks.

Now battles with Poland, Ukraine and Germany await in France, with the opportunity to make 2016 even more special than 2015.

NOMINEE: Crusaders A DEFEAT at the hands of Portadown in early December 2014 left Crusaders trailing the Shamrock Park men at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership. By April they won the title by 10 points. In July they beat Estonian side Levadia Tal-

linn on away goals after a 1-1 draw to progress to the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

Although the Crues started their defence of the title with a defeat to Portadown, they then went on a 20-match unbeaten run.

NOMINEE: Banbridge men’s hockey BANBRIDGE enjoyed a trophy-laden year in 2015 as they swept all before them in Ulster and made history to boot. They didn’t just win the Premier League, they ran away with the title, doing so without losing a game.

Cup success was to follow, both at Ulster and all-Ireland level, as they first won the Anderson Cup and then the Kirk Cup before their biggest triumph, when they brought the Irish Senior Cup back to Bann for the first time in 29 years.

NOMINEE: Waringstown cricket 1st XI WARINGSTOWN put themselves back at the top of local cricket in 2015, with not one but two trophy successes. The NCU Premier League title was the first leg of a memorable double and the first time they had won it outright in nine years, af-

ter twice having to share it.

They went on to clinch the Irish Senior Cup for only the fourth time with an impressive 107-run victory over Merrion at the Lawn to secure only the second Premier League/Senior Cup double in their history.

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Michael McKillop is presented with his trophy by Paddy Barnes and Joanne McDowell, Director for Northern Ireland of category sponsor, National Lottery

SPORTSPERSON WITH A DISABILITY: Michael McKillop

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T’S been a great 2015 for Antrim runner and Paralympic star, Michael McKillop.

And yet it could have turned into a disaster after an accident at home inflicted damaged tendons and ligaments in his foot and ankle, which required some time in a cast.

That was removed last February and a mere eight months later he was defending world titles and clinching two gold medals at the World Championships in Doha.

Now McKillop, who suffers a mild form of cerebral palsy, has the Rio Paralympics to look forward to later this year.

Coached by his father Paddy, he first struck gold in the 800m in the early stages of the Middle East competition. Despite having a year plagued with injury even when he went to Florida for some warm weather conditioning, his medical team and coaches nursed him bank into prime condition.

That was shown a few days later after the 800m win when he again came first, running the 1,500m in 4mins 16, beating nearest rival, Australian Brad Scott, by almost five seconds.

His time was almost identical to his victory in the 2014 European Championships, all the more admirable because of the heat and humidity at Qatar Sports Club.

His growing maturity at this level was captured perfectly by his thoughts after the 1,500 metres.

“After the 800m I spoke to my dad to see what way I would race it because I knew I wasn’t fit enough to go from the gun like I usually do, or even at 800m to go,” he said.

“So we thought we would try to break Brad’s spirits a bit by giving him a bit of confidence — and then crash it down again.”

He is a deserving winner of the Sportsperson with a Disability award, sponsored by the National Lottery.

NOMINEE: Bethany Firth BETHANY wrote her name into the record books in a wonderful 2015, with only injury denying her even more success. She won gold in the 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle at the Brit-

ish Championships, setting new world records in three of those events. The 19-yearold also set a new record in the 100m breaststroke at a pre-World Championship meeting in Glasgow, but missed the big event due to a wrist injury.

NOMINEE: Jason Smyth THE sprinter from Eglinton added yet another success to his ever-growing list of achievements in 2015. Already the fastest Paralympian on the planet, Smyth retained his 100m World title in a time of 10.62 at the championships in Doha.

The 28-year-old may well have repeated his memorable double from the previous games in Lyon in 2013, but after qualifying for the final he opted out of defending his 200m crown. Instead he flew home for the birth of his first child.

NOMINEE: Claire Taggart BOCCIA may not be the most well known of sports, but that hasn’t stopped Claire Taggart from hitting the top. She moved up to 12th place in the women’s world rankings and won a call-up to the Great Britain squad. The Ballygally

girl played her part in GB’s success at the European Intercontinental Cup, the European Team and Pairs Championship. She will now hope to retain her place in the team after they secured qualification for the Rio Paralympics.

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10 BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2016

GEORGE BEST BREAKTHROUGH AWARD WINNER: Iain Henderson

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AIN Henderson may be a few inches taller than Willie John McBride, but like everyone in rugby, he still looks up to the greatest British and Irish Lions captain of them all.

So for Ulster and Ireland forward Henderson to collect the George Best Breakthrough Award from McBride was an extremely special moment for the former Belfast Royal Academy pupil.

Henderson won the coveted award after making such a stunning breakthrough on the global stage at the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

In the tournament his reputation soared with sensational performances. He took himself on to a new level.

Unfortunately injuries have limited his playing time since the World Cup, but as Willie John said at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, when he returns opponents should watch out.

“Iain has so much promise. He can go from strength to strength,” said McBride, joined on stage by Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss.

Iain Henderson is presented with his trophy from all-time rugby great Willie John McBride and Director of Rugby at Ulster Les Kiss

Sports Editor Steven Beacom presents Olivia Mehaffey with her award

Olivia Mehaffey’s father Philip accepts the award for his daughter from Paralympian gold medalist Kelly Gallagher and Stewart Reid, sales manager of Volvo Title sponsor

Ulster Rugby star Iain Henderson at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards and (top) being interviewed on stage by compere Claire McCollum

Paul Hearty is presented with his trophy by Belfast Giants’ Matt Nickerson and Robert Cairns, Volvo Parts manager of category sponsor Volvo

SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS:

Olivia Mehaffey and Paul Hearty

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HE sideboards in the homes of the two ‘Special Recognition Award’ winners must groan under the strain of all the honours they win in their respective sports.

In 2015, golfer Olivia Mehaffey collected a third successive Irish Girl’s Strokeplay Championship, the Scottish Amateur Open and the Welsh Amateur Open.

Competing in Portugal at present, the Banbridge girl is preparing to travel to the University of Arizona to continue her studies. The prestigious seat of learning has an impressive golf programme and she will be attending on a Golf scholarship.

The other winner is the most decorated footballer at club level in Gaelic games, Paul Hearty. At 37, the former Armagh custodian has been the safety net of Crossmaglen Rangers’ ten Ulster club titles, six All-Ireland club titles and an unmatched at the top level of club football, 19 county titles in the Armagh Championship.

2015 was the first year Hearty (right) was given the captaincy of his club and he has led them to the county title and the Ulster title.

He was back-up goalkeeper for Benny Tierney when Armagh won their

only All-Ireland title in 2002, and it is amazing to think he is still producing the goods at such a high level.

With such a body of work behind him, it might come as a surprise that this season is the first he has spent as captain of Rangers, being appointed to the role by former club and county team mates and now joint-managers of John McEntee and Oisín McConville. Next month, milkman Hearty and Crossmaglen will hope to deliver when they meet Castlebar of Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final.

11BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2016

Aisling Reilly is presented with her trophy by GAA Tyrone manager Mickey Harte and Brian Henning, Chair of Sport Northern Ireland

LOCAL HEROES AWARD WINNER: Aisling Reilly

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ISLING Reilly may be the greatest Belfast athlete you’ve never heard of. The finest practitioners of the sport of GAA handball may play out their careers off-Broadway but that doesn’t mean they don’t sparkle like any other star once the curtain rises.

And Aisling is the brightest star in her sporting world. Little wonder the 27-year-old was awarded the Local Heroes prize at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards. Many more people, who attended the ceremony, will know her now.

Aisling is the number one female handball player in the world at a time when the standard and depth in the women’s game has never been higher.

Where did it begin? In

St Paul’s, where Reilly looked up to Fiona Shannon, the former world champion who broke new ground for Irish female players.

An underage prodigy, Reilly found the going tough when she first broke into the adult ranks. She reached a crossroads when she qualified from a strong field including the best Americans and Canadians for the final of the 2012 World Championships.

Standing in her way was clubmate Shannon, the hot favourite, whose percentage game was the antithesis of Reilly’s explosive, attacking style.

Aisling was primed to detonate, though, and when the smoke cleared, she had toppled the great champion.

Reilly’s story then took a twist. Once at the peak, she struggled a little in the thin air and within six months of winning the Worlds, had been picked off in the All-Irelands by a new, emerging force in methodical Cork player Catriona Casey.

Reilly was stung by the loss and the next time the pair met, in the final of the Irish Nationals tournament, she won emphatically and she did so again that June at the US Nationals in Iowa.

The results flip-flopped before Casey seemed to have taken charge of the rivalry, with a leading American handball promoter declaring her “the greatest female handball player of all time”.

In 2014, they met half a dozen times, with Reilly winning just once — but that was in the All-Ireland final.

In 2015, it all changed.

Reilly, training harder than ever in the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland, took her game to a new level and won all before her — the All-Ireland, the US Nationals in Los Angeles and then, in a tense tiebreaker, the World Championships in Calgary, Canada.

As of now, the identity of the queen of handball is not in doubt.

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PADDY PATTERSON AWARD WINNER:

Danny O’Connor

Danny O’Connor’s granddaughter, Anya O’Connor, accepts the award on his behalf from Roy Millar, chair of Northern Ireland Sports Forum

ANNY O’Connor is a sporting all-rounder who has inspired children and adults alike for decades.

At the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, Danny’s work in sport was honoured when he was named recipient of the WJ ‘Paddy’ Patterson Award, presented annually by the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.

The award recognises individuals who have served Ulster sport with great distinction over a period of years.

Danny has certainly done that.

He was formerly chair of Belfast City Marathon, the Belfast Hills Partnership, vice-chair for the North Belfast Play Forum and commissioner to the Irish Basketball Association.

Danny, who unfortunately couldn’t attend the glittering ceremony on Monday night, has also previously been chief leisure officer at Craigavon Borough Council, a leisure management consultant, and UK president of the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management, all the while doing his best for sport.

Now retired, he enjoyed 25 years, from 1974 to 1999, in sports development, sports administration and sports facilities planning and management advisory services with Sport Northern Ireland.

Danny (below) also has a long teaching history, involving roles as head of PE at St Comgall’s, Larne, head of PE at St Augustine’s, Belfast, and tutor in charge of PE at Rupert Stanley College, Belfast.

And before all that, he was an outstanding GAA and basketball player.

He was an inter-county, Ulster Colleges, All-Star Gaelic footballer, and international basketball player, coach, referee and administrator in the sport.

For his contributions to basketball, he was inducted into Irish Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Proud granddaughter, Anya, picked up the trophy in Danny’s absence.

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