Winners of the 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star Awards revealed

The winners of the 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star Awards, in association with Longford Sports Partnership, have been announced.

The coveted awards will be presented at a gala presentation function in the Longford Arms Hotel this Saturday, November 30 at 8pm. Tickets for the function can be purchased from the Longford Leader office, Market Square, Longford town 043 33 45241. 

As Longford Town FC celebrates its centenary year, the legendary Zac Hackett will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

While Karen Lennon, the first Lady President of Longford RFC, will be honoured as the Volunteer of the Year.

Longford minor footballers, following their heroic Leinster Final victory over Dublin, are the Team of the Year. 

The Junior Sportsperson of the Year is rising snooker star Joe Shannon and Sports Ability Award winner is Derek Rutherford who was the Ireland goalkeeper at first ever Transplant World Cup in Italy that finished sixth. Derek had a liver transplant in 2022.

Cream of local sporting talent honoured at 2019 Ganly’s Longford Sports Star gala awards

There are also ten category winners, including double Olympian swimmer Darragh Greene. 

2024 has been a great year for sport in Longford, with huge achievements from many athletes and sporting organisations. These achievements are far beyond what would be expected of a small county.

PICTURES | Dedicated volunteers and top sportspeople honoured at gala Longford Leader Sports Awards ceremony

Each of the fifteen winners will be presented with a memento in recognition of their achievement at the awards gala in the Longford Arms Hotel and they will also be in the running for the coveted title of Overall 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star of the Year.

The Longford Leader Sports Star Awards scheme is a continuation of the very successful Longford Sports Awards, initiated by Longford Sports Partnership in 2012. 

PICTURES | Fiona crowned Longford Sports Star of the Year at glittering function

After four consecutive years, 2012 - 2015 inclusive, there was no awards ceremony in 2016, however, they returned in impressive style in 2017, with Ganly’s as the lead sponsor in association with Longford Sports Partnership and the Longford Leader. The awards were also presented in 2018 and 2019. As the world battled against the Covid-19 pandemic the awards didn’t take place in 2020 or 2021 but they returned with aplomb in 2022.

Gallery | Cream of local sporting talent honoured at 2018 Ganly's Longford Sports Star Awards

Winners of 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star Awards, in association with Longford Sports Partnership;

Hall of Fame

Zac Hackett - Longford Town FC 

Club Volunteer of the Year 

Karen Lennon, Longford Rugby Club 

Team of the Year

Longford Minor Footballers, Leinster Champions 2024

Junior Sportsperson of the Year

Joe Shannon, Snooker 

Sports Ability Award

Derek Rutherford 

Award Winners 
(in alphabetical order)

Jake Bermingham, Kayaking 

Andrew Fitzpatrick, Athletics 

Fiona Gettings, Athletics 

Darragh Greene, Swimming 

Michaela Hand, Soccer 

Shane McGuigan, Rugby

Robin Og Murphy, Athletics 

Goodness Ogbonna, Soccer 

Grace Shannon, Ladies Football 

Robbie Smyth, GAA Gaelic Football