Meath Sports Awards are back! Host of heroes to be honoured in Knightsbrook
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Jamie McGrath in action for the Republic of Ireland during an international match against Andorra. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 12
Trim jockey Colin Keane gave Meath punters plenty to cheer about in 2021. Photo: GERRY SHANAHAN-WWW.QUIRKE.IE Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 12
Vikki Wall with her player of the match trophy following the All-Ireland final win over Dublin last September. Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie John QuirkeImage 4 of 12
Drumree archer Kerrie Leonard was sensational in Tokyo last summer.Image 5 of 12
Star of the Sea AC’s Andrew Coscoran represented Ireland with great distinction in 2021. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILEImage 6 of 12
Gordon Elliott enjoyed a brilliant end to 2021. Gerry ShanahanImage 7 of 12
Meath players and mentors celebrated a first All-Ireland MFC title in 29 years. John QuirkeImage 8 of 12
A emotional Eamonn Murray, with coach Paul Garrigan, sums up the feelings of the county following Meath’s Ladies All-Ireland SFC success in 2021. John QuirkeImage 9 of 12
Wolfe Tones celebrate a 16 year wait for a second Keegan Cup success. David MullenImage 10 of 12
Despite only completing her Leaving Cert in 2021 Emma Duggan had time to inspire Meath to glory. Gerry ShanahanImage 11 of 12
Conor Ennis was one of the stars of Meath’s All-Ireland MFC success. John QuirkeImage 12 of 12
Evan Ferguson has impressed since signing for Brighton.After a couple of years of uncertainty and disruption the Meath Chronicle Sports Awards are back - and with a bang.
Last year the sports awards were held remotely where champion jockey Colin Keane was crowned Sports Person of the Year for 2020 in an online ceremony and Meath Ladies picked up the Team of the Year accolade. There were also Outstanding Achievement honours for Tim Clancy, Jack Fagan and Andrew Coscoran.
Such is the high calibre of those winners that some of them were once again amongst the shining lights in 2021 with three of the five winners from 2020 again nominated for awards this year.
After two years of frustration on the sporting celebration front it is great to be able to return to Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort for a spectacular, in-person, live event to honour the magnificent achievements of our remarkable sports people from Meath.
And what a year 2021 was.
With lockdowns blighting the early months of the year, the sporting horizon rose in spectacular fashion with the Meath Ladies setting the country alight with their phenomenal heroics to not only win the NFL Div 2 crown, but to also stun the GAA world by lifting the Brendan Martin Cup for the All-Ireland SFC at the first time of asking.
Having won the All-Ireland IFC crown in December 2020, few outside of Eamonn Murray's dedicated and determined camp considered Meath as genuine senior contenders, but they produced a style and standard of football that has raised the profile of the ladies game to heights never before seen in this country.
The thrilling late Emma Duggan goal that forced extra-time in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork will live long in the memories, while the performance to halt five-in-a-row chasing Dublin in the All-Ireland final, inspired by player of the match Vikki Wall, was one of the finest ever produced.
That stunning, captivating day in Croke Park came just a week after another momentous day at GAA headquarters when Meath claimed the All-Ireland MFC title for just the fourth time with an equally dramatic victory over Tyrone.
Cathal O Bric's side were considered underdogs ahead of the minor decider, but they defied those odds to claim the spoils with Shaun Leonard firing over what proved to be the winning score.
The year of the underdog continued on the GAA fields as Wolfe Tones captured the Keegan Cup, 15 years after they last achieved the feat, in a comprehensive final victory over hotly-fancied Dunboyne.
Wolfe Tones enjoyed a remarkable 2021 going through their SFC campaign unbeaten and contesting two Feis Cup finals, including the deferred decider from 2020.
Away from the GAA fields it was a successful couple of weeks in the Far East for Andrew Coscoran and Kerrie Leonard as their exploits in Tokyo drew admiration.
Star of the Sea AC athlete Coscoran defied all the odds to reach the semi-finals of the 1500m at the Tokyo Olympic Games, while in the Paralympics Drumree archer Leonard advanced to the last 16 of the W2 individual compound.
The 2020 Meath Sports Person of the Year Keane was once again crowned champion jockey in 2021, but this time he did it in even more impressive style, smashing the record for the most winners in one season, riding 146 winners to cruise to the title.
Gordon Elliott ended the year on a high when he became the first trainer in Ireland and Britain to train seven winners at one meeting. The Longwood-based Summerhill man achieved the feat when he saddled all, bar one, of the winners at Navan in December.
After being starved of recognition at international level Meath have two more real prospects with Athboy's Jamie McGrath enjoying a breakthrough year at St Mirren in 2021, while Bettystown's Evan Ferguson continued his meteoric rise when he signed for Premier League side Brighton and impressed with some stunning goals in Premier League 2 for the Seagulls.
We are blessed to have so magnificent sports men and women in Meath and we recognise and honour each and every one of them for the success they have achieved and the boundless enjoyment they have given us.
Undoubtedly we are one of the richest counties in the country when it comes to sporting success and at the Meath Chronicle Sports Awards we are delighted to honour those who have brought so much enjoyment to us.