Meath Sports Awards - MAY winner EAMONN MURRAY
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 May winner - Meath ladies football manager Eamonn Murray.
EAMONN MURRAY
Meath ladies senior football team manager Eamonn Murray saw his players make it across the line in the Ladies NFL Div 3 final against Sligo at Clones.
The Meath women recorded a 4-11 to 1-7 victory to secure a place in the NFL Div 2 for 2020 and claim a first piece of national silverware since 1994.
In the final Meath turned on the style with Kelsey Nesbitt and Monica McGuirk inspiring the side to the NFL Div 3 title with a 4-11 to 1-7 win over Sligo in Clones.
THERE WAS ALSO A MANAGER OF THE AWARD FOR EAMONN
There was also an Allstar award for Monica McGuirk as Meath went on on a journey to Croke Park where they lost out in the Ladies All-Ireland IFC final for the second successive year.
Eamonn Murray took over the ladies when they were at a low ebb and he has brought about a gradual improvement in the fortunes of the Royal County adding the NFL title to the 2017 Leinster IFC crown and a place in the All-Ireland IFC finals in 2018 and 2019.
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.