26 Apr 2007

UCC Sports Star Awards 2006/2007

Inter-county stars Michael Shields (Gaelic Football) and Catriona Foley (Camogie) are among the sports stars who will be honoured at the 24th Annual UCC Sports Star Awards Ceremony which takes place in Jury's Hotel this evening (Thursday 26 April 2007).

This year 11 individual students and one team are being honoured as the highest achievers in sporting terms over the last twelve months.

This year sees two new sports being recognised for the first time: Trish Doyle for Badminton and Diarmuid MacSuibhne for TWD/Kickboxing. Diarmuid is also on a UCC Sports Scholarship.  Ten of the 11 individual award winners are current UCC Sports Scholarship holders.

The Rowing Novice Crew are being honoured in recognition of their outstanding successes on the waterfront during the past twelve months. Their successes include: Men's Novice 8 National Champions, Men's Novice 8 National Intervarsity Champions, Men's Senior 8 Leander Grand Challenge Cup Winners, Cork Head of the River, Muckross Head of the River, and St. Michael's Head of the River.

In addition to these awards, a Special Achievement Award known as the "Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award" will be presented to Ron Thompson, coach to the very successful UCC Badminton Club, in recognition of the club's victory in the Intervarsities this year and his long years of service to the club.

Amongst the former winners of the awards who have gone on to achieve full international or equivalent honours are Gillian O'Sullivan, Freda Davoren (Athletics),  Peter Stringer, Jerry Flannery, Frank Sheehan (Rugby), Sarah Kelleher, Deirdre Deasy, Mary Logue, Rachael Kohler (Ladies Hockey), John Morris, Niall Goulding (Golf), Rose Breen (Basketball), Maurice Fitzgerald, Anthony Lynch, Seamus Moynihan (Gaelic Football), Nicky English, Joe Deane, John Browne, Tommy Walsh, Tom Kenny (Hurling), Eimear McDonnell, Una O'Donoghue, Una O'Dwyer (Camogie) and Eugene Coakley (Rowing).

Guest of Honour at this year's function is Dr Michael Murphy, President UCC, who will be attending his first UCC Sports Awards Function as President.

Amongst those who will attend this year's awards are personalities from the world of sport, parents and coaches of the recipients, members of staff from different UCC Departments, UCC Clubs Executive members, and representatives from Jury's and the Bank of Ireland.

The organiser of the event is Ms Christine O'Donovan, Acting Director of Physical Education & Sport UCC.  The event is sponsored by Jury's Hotel, Cork and The Bank of Ireland.

AWARDEES
Orla Drumm, Athletics
Trish Doyle, Badminton
Marie Breen, Basketball
Catriona Foley, Camogie
Michael Shields, Gaelic Football
Gillian O'Leary, Golf
Maria Daly, Handball
Shane O'Neill, Hurling
Aine Connery, Ladies Hockey
UCC Mens' Novice Crew - Rowing (Shane MacEoin, Eoghan Quain, Ciaran Duffy,
Maurice Keller, Billy Ryan, Chris Horgan, Stephen Martin, James Donovan, Thomas Mulqueen)
Billy Holland, Rugby
Diarmuid MacSuibhne, TWD/Kick-Boxing

430MMcS