Elliott scoops award

THE achievements of various sportspeople in Meath were recognised by the introduction of the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Sports personality-of-the-month awards during 2007 and the recipients all convened for the big occasion, the announcement of the winner, at the Knightsbrook Hotel on Monday night. Plans are already well advanced for an enhanced series of awards for 2008 and full details will be announced at the formal launch later this month. With the exception of James Foley (February) and Damien McGrane (July), the other monthly winners were present along with a couple of Special Category recipients in the form of Navan RFC and Meath camogie team. Close to 400 invited guests enjoyed the night as MC Micheal O Muircheartaigh added his own exclusive flavour to the occasion. That included some impromptu interviews, which kept the audience highly entertained. We learned, for example, that champion trainer Noel Meade would like to see Harchibald lose the "squiggle" which has been attributed in the English racing form. 'It"s a kind of a thing they add on which suggests that the horse is unpredictable, I think he is the best horse I have and I would like nothing more than to be able to say that to some of the commentators over there on Champion Hurdle day,' he stated to great applause as he accepted his monthly award for December. He also highlighted injuries as the biggest problem facing any trainer. 'I suppose it"s like any sport, if you can stay fit, then you are always in with a chance, it"s the same with racehorses,' added Meade. There was an emotional interview with Seneschalstown selector Damien Sheridan. 'I have been involved in sport for about 40 years and 2007 was a very emotional year,' he explained. 'It was very sad that Tommy McDonnell, one of our selectors, passed away after we won the Keegan Cup, but he was an inspiration to us all over the previous 18 months. 'We all knew that Tommy was seriously ill, but the players responded to his determination and it transformed the team,' he continued. The late Tommy McDonnell was represented by his son, Ted, who accepted the trophy on behalf of the club. 'The football brought him on, it kept him going,' he explained to a completely silent room. All the winners came from a wide variety of sporting disciplines, from archery to athletics, and included performers who notched up considerable achievements at home and abroad. Each of the monthly winners received a specially commissioned trophy from local artist Betty Newman-Maguire. 'We wanted to keep the theme of the night very much focussed on Meath and that included the awards which were presented throughout the year and tonight commented Cusack Hotel Group director Paul McQuillan. Others honoured with monthly awards included popular GAA official Barney Allen (January) who was elected the new Co Committee chairman last December. Queried by O Muircheartaigh about the on-going Cork saga, he outlined Meath"s position. 'We are giving Cork until this weekend to play the game, after that we won"t be playing it,' he explained to tremendous roars of approval. March winner Philip Carberry indicated that he was looking forward to trying for a second Champion Hurdle with Sublimity while athlete Kourosh Foroughi identified the World Junior Championships as his main target for 2008. The success of Trim Celtic in the Meath & District Premier League was acknowledged. 'Winning the title was a combination of five or six years hard work from the first team to get to a position where they could put in a serious challenge for the title,' said club official Robert Bradley. Kells golfer Damien McGrane made up for past disappointments when he clinched third place in the French Open, his highest finish yet on the European Tour and his achievements this month against Tiger Woods were also noted. McGrane"s father, Ronnie, who accepted the award on behalf of his son, confirmed that Damien is now on the way to India for his next event. 'We hope to travel out there shortly to take in some of the tournament,' he stated. Colm Coyle"s first year in charge of Meath contained some memorable moments most notably the victory over Tyrone that earned a place in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork. Selector Tommy Dowd represented his team who were the August recipients. Dedication and resilience were some of the qualities that earned Sean Heary the September award as he qualified for the Paralympics as the sole Irish archer. 'I was paralysed in the past and I took up archery as part of the rehabilitation process when I was in Dun Laoghaire, I"m currently ranked 11th in the world and hopefully I might improve on that,' he said. Kiltale hurling selectors, Paddy Kelly, Francis Lynch, Noel Regan and Lorcan Kelly were the other monthly winners.