Meath Sports Awards - SEPTEMBER winner GARY MCCONNELL AND BRIAN CARROLL
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 September and Kells handballers Brian Carroll & Gary McConnell
BRIAN CARROLL AND GARY MCCONNELL
Kells handballers Brian Carroll and Gary McConnell combined brilliantly to claim the All-Ireland Senior Softball Handball Doubles title for Meath.
The handball season came to a close at Croke Park when the Meath pairing of Carroll and McConnell retained their doubles title with a comfortable 21-11, 21-8 win over first-time finalists Robbie McCarthy and Colm Jordan of Westmeath.
The Kells duo made history as the final was the last to be played in the iconic handball centre at Croke Park, which was demolished in the following weeks.
MEATH GAA CO BOARD RECOGNISED THE ACHIEVEMENT
The occasion was marked by a ceremony involving over 20 former champions after the action concluded.
Carroll is a nine-time winner in this grade while this was McConnell’s second success at softball doubles, while the win also represented Meath's 18th title overall at the grade.
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.