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2011 Donegal Sports Star Awards
05.01.12
Report:
Inishowen Independent
SCORES of Inishowen athletes are on tenterhooks this
week after being nominated for the prestigious
Donegal Sports Star Awards.
With this year’s ceremony set to be presented by
RTE’s Tony O’Donaghue on Friday January 27, hundreds
of performers, who have excelled in 2011, are in the
running for gongs in 36 separate categories, from
cycling to clay pigeon shooting.
Overall winner two years ago, Illies Golden Gloves
brawler William McLaughlin is hoping to knock out
the boxing award once more while talented Newtown
marksman Jim Doherty is gunning for the clay pigeon
honour. |
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Newtown marksman, Jim Doherty. |
Promising cyclist Aaron
McBride, from the North Pole Club, is flying the
Inishowen flag in the cycling section with Brian
Harkin of Inishowen Rugby Club hoping to win the
appreciation award.
Muff’s Kenneth Graham is one of just five nominees
in the equestrian category while Carn girl Gemma
McCormick hopes to leap to glory in the gymnastics
section.
Burt’s Niall Campbell, who has already won the GAA
All-Star Lory Meaghar award after a successful
season with club and county, is one of the
favourites for the 2011 hurling honour.
Karate star Denise Donaghey, from Burnfoot, is
aiming to retain her Donegal Sports Star martial
arts medal while her club, Ulster Karate Federation,
is an outside bet to slam the club award. Talented
Michael McCay, Samurai Uladh Judo Club, Burnfoot, is
also in the running for the martial arts title.
Inishowen has two local stars in the scrum for the
rugby title with Fahan’s Nora Stapelton and Paul
Cassidy, from Inishowen RFC, two of the three
nominees. Stapelton won the honour this time last
year.
In the soccer section Buncrana’s Johnny Bonner, who
plays for Genesse College in upstate New York, is up
against Glengad star midfielder Patrick McDermott.
The Burt hurlers, who won the County and Ulster
Championships, are up against the might of the
Donegal GAA team among others in a very competitive
team award section.
In the primary school section, won by Scoil Naomh
Fionan, Whitecastle, last year, St. Mura’s NS and
St. Patrick’s Boys School Carn are in the running
for honours.
In the primary boys St. Mura’s duo Denver Kelly and
Kieran Brady are up against Oisin McLaughlin,
Gaeilscoil Bun Cranncha, and Sam Todd, St. Patrick’s
Boys NS, Carn.
In the girls section Amy McGonigle and Sarah Jane
Porter St. Mura’s, Tooban, are representing
Inishowen while Crana College is in line for the
Secondary School title.
Crana College’s Michael McCay is also nominated in
the Secondary Boys section while Moville girl
Kathleen McNaught is similarly in the hunt for
honours. |
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