Top meath sportsmen and women set for eighth annual awards night
The biggest names in Meath sport will be in attendance at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim this Thursday night for the 2014 Meath Chronicle/Cusack Hotel Group eighth annual sports awards.
This is the eighth year of the awards and they will be compered once again by RTE’s Evanne Ni Chuilinn who proved to be a popular choice in previous years.
The two 'overall' award winners will each receive a specially commissioned and unique trophy from local Woodturner Seamus Cassidy who is based at his gallery and workshop in Beauparc.
'I'm delighted to have been chosen again to produce the overall awards for the Meath Sportsperon and Meath Young Sportsperson of the Year,' he commented.
Seamus Cassidy was selected as the winner in the woodturning category and the Irish Woodturners Guild Award in the prestigious 2014 RDS National Craft Awards.
On Thursday night some 17 sportsmen and women will be there to collect their monthly accolades and will be in line for the top honour and there is sure to be a quiet, tension-filled hush in the big audience before the announcement is made.
Those in the hat for the top award include two ladies, Aileen Donnelly and Sara Treacy along with Colin Keane, Devin Toner, Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry, Gordon Elliott, Tony Martin, Noel Meade, Jeff Mahon, Harry Purcell, Eddie Lynam, Damien McGrane, James Scully, Philip McNally, Jack Regan and Niall McKeigue.
There is also the young sportsperson of the year to be selected with six contenders who will each receive a memento of their nomination - the contenders are - Harry Purcell, Charlie Bird, Jamie McGrath, Amanda McQuillan, Megan Thynne and Elizabeth Morland.
Also to be presented are Outstanding Achievement awards to Dylan Connolly, James Conroy, Michelle Delaney, Jackie Shiels, Marie Louise Reilly, Grace Davitt and team awards to Kilmessan camogie team and Kiltale hurlers.
Finally, there are PRO awards for Brian Kelly (Seneschalstown GAA club) and Patrick Matthews (Kells/Blackwater FC).