AWARDS Shortlist Announced for RTE Sports Awards 2007 in association with the Irish Sports Council
Shortlist Announced for RTة Sports Awards 2007 in association with the Irish Sports Council
RTة Sport today (Monday 17 December, 2007) announced the shortlist of seven finalists for both the RTة Sports Person of the Year Award and the RTة Team of the Year Award. Drawn from over 5,000 nominations submitted by the public to RTة.ie, and deliberated by the judging panel, the winners will be presented with their awards at a gala event televised live on RTة One at 9.35pm this Friday 21 December.
On the night, a panel of well-known Irish sports stars and analysts will reflect on the shortlists, debating the Irish sporting year that was. Former top rugby player Brent Pope, World Indoor Athletics champion Derval O’Rourke, All-Ireland winning Clare hurling captain Anthony Daly, former Irish soccer International Liam Brady, 2006 Ryder Cup Vice Captain Des Smyth and All-Ireland winning Cork footballer Tony Davis will offer their views on the highs and lows of Irish sport in 2007.
The RTة Sports Person of The Year shortlist consists of: Waterford hurler Dan Shanahan; golf’s Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington; three-in-a-row European Union boxing gold medal winner Katie Taylor; Irish athletics star David Gillick; 2007 All-Ireland winning GAA footballer Marc س Se; World Rally Championship Rookie of The Year Shaun Gallagher; Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Celebrating the collaborative achievements of Irish athletes, The RTة Sports Team of the Year shortlist include: the Kilkenny Hurling team, who claimed their 30th All Ireland senior title this year; the Irish Cricket Team, who gave a stunning performance against Pakistan after qualifying for the World Cup; first-time FAI eircom Premier League champions Drogheda United; three-in-a-row All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football champions Cork; Special Olympics Team Ireland, following their amazing success at the World Games where they took home 119 medals; the Wexford Camogie team who captured their first All-Ireland senior title in 32 years; the Kerry Senior Football team, who became the first team to win back to back All-Irelands since 1990.
The winner of this year’s RTة Sports Person of the Year and RTة Team of the Year will be decided by an expert RTة judging panel consisting of senior RTة Sport personnel across all arms of the organisation; television, radio, news and online.
The RTة Sports Awards 2007 in association with The Irish Sports Council will be presented by RTة’s Michael Lyster, Darragh Maloney and Joanne Cantwell. The gala awards ceremony will also see the honour of the RTة/Irish Sports Council’s Hall of Fame Award presented to a very deserving Irish sporting veteran.