Voting lines now open for the 2018 Westmeath Independent Sports Awards

The 2018 Westmeath Independent Sports Awards will take place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone on Friday evening, January 25, 2019. This awards scheme is sponsored by the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, in association with Action Physio and Byrne Carolan Cunningham Solicitors. All 12 monthly winners will be formally presented with their awards at the gala awards function.

The overall winner will be chosen from the 12 monthly winners, readers will have the opportunity to cast their vote for the Readers’ Choice Award. The monthly winners for 2018 are profiled below a long with their voting details. Lines are now open and will close on January 17th at midnight. The overall winner will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on January 25th, 2019. 

 

JANUARY - PHILIP KING (ATHLETICS)

The January winner is Moate teenager Philip King who finished third in the 1500 metres race in an international indoor open event held in Glasgow. Later in the year, Philip went on to win a national junior title as part of a 4 x 400 metres relay team. He was competing alongside three club colleagues from Tullamore Harriers, with Philip running the anchor leg. A student at Moate Community School, Philip has won a Leinster U-18 steeplechase gold medal, breaking the Leinster record in the process. And he has represented his school at numerous cross country competitions at Connacht and All-Ireland level.

To vote for Philip to win simply call 1516 306 001. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

FEBRUARY - TEANNA WATTS & DYLAN POTTER (POWERLIFTING)

Teanna Watts and Dylan Potter are joint winners for February when they won gold medals at the national powerlifting championships in Dublin. And later in the year, both Teanna from Streamstown and Dylan from Monksland, Athlone won bronze medals at the European championships in Lithuania. Both of the local powerlifters have done much of their training at Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

To vote for Teanna and Dylan to win simply call 1516 306 002. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

MARCH - MICHELLE CLAFFEY (RUGBY)

Michelle Claffey is the March award winner by virtue of playing for the Ireland women’s rugby team in the Six Nations championship. Having made her debut as a substitute against Italy, the Ballinahown native was also in the squad for the matches against Wales, Scotland and England. Later in the year, Claffey made her first start for Ireland at senior level against the USA, with the Blackrock and Leinster player also included in the squad for the 2019 Six Nations. Hailing from a family well known in sporting and business circles, Michelle’s uncle, the late Kieran Claffey, won an All-Ireland senior football medal with Offaly in 1971.

To vote for Michelle to win simply call 1516 306 003. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

APRIL - COLÁISTE CHIARÁIN SOCCER TEAM

THE April winner is the Coláiste Chiaráin soccer team who won the Connacht Schools Cup, before going on to reach the national final. Coláiste Chiaráin won the Connacht Schools Cup when they defeated Summerhill College 4-3 in the provincial final. The Athlone side then beat Mount Sion CBS of Waterford in the Senior Schools Cup national semi-final. Although they were eventually defeated by a highly rated Carndonagh CS team, their run to the national decider was a terrific achievement. Their progress was all the more notable given that it was the school’s first year competing in the competition after the amalgamation of two local secondary schools.

To vote for Coláiste Chiaráin Soccer Team to win simply call 1516 306 004. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

MAY - MOATE CS U-14 LADIES FOOTBALL TEAM

The Moate Community School U-14 ladies football team was chosen for the May award after winning the Leinster Schools ‘A’ title. They defeated Scoil Chriost Rí of Portlaoise in the final. It was the first time for Moate CS to win a Leinster ‘A’ title in either a boys or girls’ championship. The team was jointly captained by Áine Gaynor and Ava Cornally, with Kacey Burslem Rotheroe scoring three goals in the 6-8 to 2-4 victory in the final played in Durrow. The Moate CS team was coached by Fidelma Quinn and Niall Daly.

To vote for Moate Cs U-14 Ladies Football Team to win simply call 1516 306 005. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

JUNE - PADDY MCDONNELL (SWIMMING/ENDURANCE SPORT)

Paddy McDonnell was selected as the June award winner after he became the first Irishman to swim the length of the river Shannon. The Coosan native completed the marathon swim of 245 kilometres over the space of 14 days. His journey began in Co. Cavan and took him all the way to the south west of Limerick. With his remarkable feat of endurance, Paddy raised funds for Pieta House and the Irish Cancer Society, in addition to community and sporting organisations in the Cloghan area where he now lives.

To vote for Paddy to win simply call 1516 306 006. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

JULY - CONOR GLENNON (GOLF)

Ballykeeran teenager Conor Glennon is the award winner for July after he qualified to compete in the US Junior Amateur Golf Championship in Springfield, New Jersey. The 18-year-old from Annagh, Ballykeeran finished joint second at a qualifying tournament in Chicago to earn his place. A member of Glasson Golf Club, Conor also won the Kerry Boys (U-18) Championship in Ballybunion, getting the better of 120 of the top U-18 male golfers in Ireland to win the coveted title. The Marist College student is now set to pursue a golf scholarship at the Chicago-based DePaul University later this year.

To vote for Conor to win simply call 1516 306 007. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

AUGUST - DARRAGH MURRAY (RUGBY)

The August award winner is Darragh Murray after he was selected on the Ireland U-18 rugby squad, the second season for the Buccaneers player to be selected on this squad. Murray was captain of the Connacht Clubs U-18 team which beat all three of the other provinces in the 2018 interprovincial festival of rugby in Limerick. The Brideswell native and Coláiste Chiaráin student was among the award recipients at the 2018 Connacht Rugby Awards. Darragh has also shown talent in Gaelic football with St Brigid’s.

To vote for Darragh to win simply call 1516 306 008. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

SEPTEMBER - KATELYN KEOGH & KAYLEIGH SHINE (SOCCER)

Katelyn Keogh and Kayleigh Shine are the award winners for September after they were selected on the Ireland U-17 women’s soccer international squad. The Athlone Town duo, both of whom are former Bealnamulla players, received a call-up for two friendly internationals against the Czech Republic. Keogh from Taughmaconnell and Shine from Taylorstown, Athlone both showed sporting promise from an early age. Keogh subsequently came on as a sub and scored two goals in a comprehensive win over Albania in the UEFA European Championships qualifiers.

To vote for Katelyn and Kayleigh to win simply call 1516 306 009. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 
 

OCTOBER - DONIE SHINE (GAELIC FOOTBALL)

Donie Shine was chosen as the October award winner after he captained Clann na nGael to their 21st Roscommon senior football title. To make the victory sweeter, Clann defeated old rivals and defending champions St Brigid’s in the county final. Shine scored a total of 1-7 in the final including a late penalty which capped his side’s emphatic victory. One of the stars of Roscommon’s All-Ireland minor success in 2006, Donie won a Connacht senior medal in 2010 when he scored the winning point against Sligo in the final.

To vote for Donie to win simply call 1516 306 010. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

NOVEMBER - KYLE CONWAY (SOCCER)

Kyle Conway was chosen for the November award after a season to remember which included his selection on the Ireland U-17 soccer squad. Though still only 15, Kyle was promoted to the U-17 squad for an international tournament featuring England, Czech Republic and Germany. Conway from Athlone was the captain of the St Patrick’s Athletic team which won an U-15 League and Cup double in 2018. St Pat’s defeated Cork City in the U-15 Cup final making up for the previous year’s final when, ironically, Conway’s side lost out to Athlone Town. Conway was also named as the U-15 SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year.

To vote for Kyle to win simply call 1516 306 011. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

DECEMBER - BRIAN O’HARA DUGGAN & TOMMY COOGAN (BASKETBALL)

The December award winners are Brian O'Hara Duggan and Tommy Coogan, both of whom were selected on the Ireland U-17 basketball squad. A student at Athlone Community College, for whom he has starred on the basketball court, Coogan is part of the Athlone senior basketball team which has been showing impressive form in the Midlands Basketball League. O'Hara Duggan plays basketball for Galway club Maree, and Brian has also shown prowess on the football field with St Brigid's, winning a county U-16 title in 2018. He is a member of the current Roscommon minor panel.

To vote for Brian & Tommy to win simply call 1516 306 012. Calls cost €1.50 and your vote will count as soon as the call is answered. 

 

Terms & Conditions: 
Lines close midnight on January 17th. Entrants must be over 18. 1516 calls cost €1.52 per call.   BDC Helpline: 0818 286600.