Meath and Rathkenny footballer Donal Keogan

Meath Sports Awards - JULY winner DONAL KEOGAN

The countdown is on for the Meath Chronicle Sportsperson of the Year awards with the 13th annual ceremony scheduled for its traditional home at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim next Friday evening.

TICKETS

You can still buy tickets as there is limited availability - If you wish to attend contact Linda Cahill in the Meath Chronicle by Wednesday - linda.cahill@meathchronicle.ie or the Ticketline at (046) 9079654 - 10am - 2pm - Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

The overall 2019 Sportsperson of the Year will be selected from the monthly winners who will each be honoured on the night in recognition of their specific achievements during 2019.

The 2019 Sportsperson of the Year awards will be hosted by RTE’s Evanne Ni Chuilinn.

The list of contenders is listed at the end of this article and in this piece the focus is on July winner - Meath Allstar nominee Donal Keogan.

DONAL KEOGAN

Rathkenny's Donal Keogan was back to his best for Meath in 2019 producing a string of outstanding displays as the Royal County secured promotion to the NFL Div 1 and a place in the Super 8s for the first time. .

Donal was overlooked for an Allstar in one of the half-back positions with the selection committee opting to go for a half-forward, Dublin's Brian Howard, instead of some of the country's more talented defenders.

Throughout 2019 the Rathkenny man consistently produced consistent displays highlighted by  his performance in the round four All-Ireland SFC qualifier win over Clare.

Joint-captain along with Bryan Menton, Donal epitomised the Meath spirit throughout a hugely successful campaign and he also scooped the Meath footballer of the year accolade. 
MONTHLY WINNERS

January - Gavin Kennedy (Ashbourne RFC); February - Shane Aston (Trim AC); March - Ger Lyons (horseracing), Andy McEntee (GAA); Keith Donoghue (horseracing), Gavin Cromwell (horseracing), April - Ray Moloney (Navan RFC), Gordon Elliott (horseracing); May - Eamonn Murray (GAA); June - Nick Fitzgerald (GAA); July - Donal Keogan (GAA); August - Colin Keane (horseracing); September - Brian Carroll & Gary McConnell (handball); October - Cian Carey (motorsport); November - Mary Watters (athletics); December - Alan Murphy (Trim Celtic).

OTHER AWARDS 
Other awards that will be presented include

Team of the Year - Na Fianna Camogie (voted by Meath Chronicle readers)
Outstanding Achievement Male - Jack Regan (voted by Meath Chronicle readers)
Outstanding Achievement Female - Natalya Coyle (voted by Meath Chronicle readers)
Young Sportsperson of the Year - TBA on the night (selected by Meath Chronicle)

There will be some Facebook live from the Knightsbrook next Friday night.