Winners of the 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star Awards revealed
Coveted awards, in association with Longford Sports Partnership, will be presented at a gala presentation function in the Longford Arms Hotel this Saturday, November 30, 8pm
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.
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.
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.
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.
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