Promising soccer player Woods chosen for sports award
RISING Athlone Town star Joe Woods has been chosen as the May award winner in the Westmeath Independent/Hodson Bay Hotel Sports Awards.
The 18-year-old was in inspirational form when helping Athlone Town youths claim a memorable league and cup double in May, as Mickey Collins' side captured the DDSL Under-17 Taaffe League Cup, followed by the DDSL Under-17 Major Division 1 league title.
Ballinasloe native Woods was also a key player as Athlone Community College reached the Leinster Senior Schools' final earlier this year.
A natural centre-back, Woods' progress over the past year has been recognised by Athlone Town senior team manager Mike Kerley, with Woods making his competitive first-team debut in March, against Longford Town in the League Cup. He has since gone on to establish himself as a regular member of the first-team squad. Commitments to his Leaving Cert, recently meant a short break from first-team duties for Woods, but Athlone supporters have been suitably impressed by his impact this season, and Mike Kerley is likely to hand him even more league experience before the season finishes.
Woods has also shown great versatility since making his Airtricity League debut, playing at right-back and centre-back.
Woods said he was "surprised but delighted" to be chosen for a Westmeath Independent/Hodson Bay Hotel Sports Award, and added that he hopes to build on his opening half to the season with Athlone Town.
Woods, who was also called into the Leinster youth squad for a recent competition in Germany, is one of several young players given an opportunity in the first-team by Athlone since March, and looks to have a bright future in the game.
The Athlone defender joins fellow sports-people Alex Condron, Brendan Gibbons and Chloe Joyce (January, Swimming), Senan Kilbride (February, GAA), Pat Fox (March, Hockey), Robbie Henshaw (April, Rugby), and Joe Ward (June, Boxing), in receiving Westmeath Independent/Hodson Bay Sports Awards this year. All twelve monthly award winners will be honoured early next year at a Gala night in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone.
