Megan, Natalya and Sara at the awards

Girl power at Meath Sports Awards

Girl power was the theme at the Meath Sports Awards in Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim on Friday night for the 10th annual presentations of the jointly-promoted Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotel Group awards.

For the first time since the awards were introduced the ladies took the laurels with Natalya Coyle scooping the prestigious Meath Sportsperson of the Year accolade while Megan Thynne took the Young Sportsperson category and Sara Treacy captured the Outstanding Achievement award.

The first two winners were seelected by a panel of judges, but the Outstanding Award was decided on a vote amongst the patrons on the night.

Natalya Coyle was the monthly winner for May and she went on to produce a tremendous performance at the Olympic Games in Rio.

However, she was nominated for May after she struck gold in Florida with partner Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe to win the Modern Pentathlon mixed relay World Cup crown.

She then went on to the Olympic Games in Rio competed in the Modern Pentathlon improving on her London 2012 finishing position moving up from ninth to seventh.

SARA TREACY

Sarah Treacy chalked up a significiant milestone in her eventful career in 2016 when she appeared on the biggest stage of all - the Olympic Games.

The Dunboyne AC runner showed she was in good form when she achieved a notable double triumph at the UK Women's League Div 1 at Swansea in both the 800m and the 1,500m.

In her qualifying race in Rio for the steeplechase she was impeded while in an excellent position when it looked like she would qualify automatically.

She appealed successfully and duly took her place in the final that was won by 19-year-old Kenyan Ruth Jebet, who was representing Bahrain.

MEGAN THYNNE

It is doubtful if Megan Thynne will ever experience a more hectic year ithan 2016? A National Camogie League Div 2 and a Leinster Intermediate Camogie championship.

Nominated for a National Camogie Association Rising Star Award she was also a vital cog in the Kilmessan machine that claimed a 14th Meath Senior Camogie title in 15 years

In football there was Leinster and All-Ireland MFC B crowns, Meath Ladies Minor footballer of the year, helped Dunshaughlin CC to a hugely successful year.