AWARDS: Shortlist Announced for The RTة Sports Awards 2008 in association with the Irish Sports Council

RTة Sport today (Tuesday 16 December, 2008) announced the shortlist of nine finalists for the RTة Sports Person of the Year Award and six finalists for the RTة Team of the Year Award. The winners will be presented with their awards at The RTة Sports Awards 2008 - a gala event to be broadcast live on RTة One, this Sunday 21 December at 9.30pm.

Presented by Michael Lyster, Darragh Maloney and Joanne Cantwell, the live two-hour show will review the sporting year and look back on the dramatic and memorable sporting moments of 2008. 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. The panel will consist of former Munster and International rugby player Tony Ward; All-Ireland winning Kerry Captain and All Star, Dara س Cinnéide; Offaly Hurling All Star, Michael Duignan; former European Tour player John McHenry, four-time Olympian and World Championship winning athlete Eamonn Coghlan and former soccer International, Kenny Cunningham.

The RTة Sports Person of the Year shortlist consists of: Olympic boxing silver medallist, Kenny Egan; double Open Champion and USPGA winner Padraig Harrington; World Lightweight Champion boxer, Katie Taylor; Champion horse trainer with 22 Group 1 successes, Aidan O'Brien; All-Ireland Senior winning Tyrone footballer and International Rules Captain, Sean Cavanagh; (Senior Hurling) All Ireland winning Kilkenny hurler, Eoin Larkin; Heineken Cup winning Munster and International Rugby player, Ronan O'Gara; Paralympic two-time gold medal winner, Jason Smyth; and Eircom League of Ireland winning Bohemians' goalkeeper, Brian Murphy.

Celebrating the collaborative achievements of Irish athletes, The RTة Sports Team of the Year shortlist includes: Kilkenny Hurling Team, Tyrone Football Team, Munster Rugby Team, Irish Amateur Golf Team, Cork Camogie Team and Bohemians Football Club.

The winners will be selected by a panel of RTة sports journalists and broadcasters and will be announced live on the night.

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.

Further information:
Deirdre O'Reilly, TV Press & Publicity.
Tel: 01 208 2872, Mob 087 962 7469.
Email: deirdre.oreilly@rte.ie