Galway sports stars of 2012

Published: Wed 2 Jan 2013, 10:51 AM

By JIM CARNEY HIGHER levels of achievement by many exceptionally talented young Galway sports people in 2012 made it a year to remember. Disappointment on many big days too, of course, especially in team sports, and that's often the case. But, in general, it was a good year and sport is playing an increasingly popular and very important role in people's lives. It may already be a clichÃƒÂ© but undoubtedly we can turn to sport to cheer ourselves up in bad times. The 48th County Galway Sports Stars of the Year Ã¢€â€ sponsored by Supermac's and promoted by the Connacht Tribune, Tuam Herald and Raidio na Gaeltachta Ã¢€â€ will be presented at a Ã¢€Ëœblack tie' banquet in the Ardilaun House Hotel, Salthill on Saturday night, January 19th. This high-prestige awards scheme has run unbroken since 1965 when it was started by Mickey Walsh of Galway Lawn Tennis Club and a group of journalists led by the late Jim Lydon. The inaugural selection had eleven categories, which has now grown to 20-plus most years. Very sadly, Mickey Walsh will be present only in spirit when the 2012 awards are presented; he died three months ago. There is also great sadness that it was at this function twelve months ago the late, much missed Eamonn (Chick) Deacy received the Hall of Fame award. One of Galway's finest, best loved sporting personalities gave an acceptance speech on that memorable occasion that still leaves all who heard it feeling emotional as they remember one of sport's true heroes and, in his day-to-day life, a true gentleman and very special person. To mark Galway achievements in 2012, by individuals and teams, guest speaker Brent Pope will present 22 awards, including the Hall of Fame induction of one of Ireland's greatest ever golfers, Galway-born Christy O'Connor Jnr. The guest of honour will be one of Irish sport's leading personalities, rugby pundit Brent Pope, a native of New Zealand, a top player there in the 1980s; and in his 21 years in Ireland be has been a rugby coach, television analyst, a writer of children's books, charity worker and after-dinner speaker. The latest Hall of Fame honour will be bestowed on a legendary Galway sportsman with a wide international dimension to his career Ã¢€â€ golfer Christy O'Connor Junior, hero of the 1989 Ryder Cup victory over the United States after he played a stunning, now legendary 2 iron shot on the last hole at The Belfry in the West Midlands of England, against Fred Couples. He left it just four feet from the hole, ensuring that Europe tied with the U.S. and thus retained the famous trophy. Born in Knocknacarra, west of Salthill, on August 19th 1948, the nephew of Christy O'Connor Senior turned professional in 1967. The European Tour officially began in 1972 and 'Junior' made the top hundred on the Order of Merit in each of its first 21 seasons, with a best ranking of seventh in 1975. He won four European Tour events and played in the Ryder Cup twice, the first time in 1975 when Great Britain and Ireland lost to hosts U.S.A. at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. His big victories included the 1975 Martini International (tied with Ian Stanley), the Carroll's Irish Open in the same year; the 1989 Jersey Open, the 1992 Dunhill British Masters, the Irish Matchplay Championship three times; the 1974 Zambia Open, and the 1990 Kenya Open. As always, Gaelic Games figure prominently in the County Galway Sports Stars Awards list. County senior football team captain Finian Hanley has been chosen mainly for his inspirational leadership of his club Salthill-Knocknacarra in their County Championship campaign, regaining the title they last held in 2005, while brilliant hurler David Burke is honoured for both his club form Ã¢€â€ outstanding at midfield as a young St Thomas' team won their first ever County Cup Ã¢€â€ and also for his dazzling forward play for Galway in their Leinster SHC victory and in the two All-Ireland clashes with Kilkenny. Burke, a natural stickman who can play anywhere, quickly put the disappointment of the Liam MacCarthy Cup replay defeat behind him. His club St Thomas's (Kilchreest, Peterswell and Castledaly) have been on the rise in recent years and late in 2012 they went all the way. For David Burke, their top performer on the biggest days, particularly in the County final against Loughrea, it was a spectacular triumph - his father John was the team manager and David had five brothers and a cousin alongside him, all very talented players. Two managers are honoured: Anthony Cunningham for leading Galway hurlers to an historic victory in the Leinster Championship, winning the Bob O'Keeffe Cup for the first time, and Steven Joyce who has been the spiritual leader of Cumann Peile Naomh PÃƒÂ¡draig, An Fhairche for the past 35 years, first as a player (their greatest ever) and then as their sideline supremo. In early 2012 he had the honour of guiding his beloved Clonbur football team to a thrilling Croke Park victory in the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship final against the Tyrone and Ulster champions Derrytresk Fir aChnoic (men of the hills), and to make the day even more special, his son Eoin was the team captain. Two players who also wore the Maroon and White of Galway with distinction this year, although both suffered All-Ireland semi-final disappointment, will be very popular choices for 2012 Sports Star awards: Niamh Kilkenny in camogie, from the Pearse's (Gurteen-Ballymacward) club, and SinÃƒÂ©ad Burke in Ladies Football, from the Killanin club. An award-winner from the previous year honoured again is the young Connemara handball wizard Ciana NÃƒÂ Churraoin (Cois Fharraige), now winning world titles. She is a member of a very talented family from IndreabhÃƒÂ¡n; her brother FiontÃƒÂ¡n is one of the top young footballers emerging in recent years, for his club MÃƒÂcheÃƒÂ¡l Breathnachs and for Galway at U-21 and senior levels, and their father Brian Curran was a champion boxer 30 years ago. Another Gaeltacht award-winner is soccer star SÃƒÂ©amus Conneely, formerly of Galway Utd; then Sheffield Utd for 18 months, and now with League of Ireland Premier Division champions Sligo Rovers. Conneely, who plays at right-back, is 24. Much younger is brilliant athlete Alanna Lally, while youth also triumphed in Galway sport in 2012 in boxing, eventing and showjumping, hockey and swimming.