The inaugural winner of the Waterford Sports Awards, in association with WLR and the Granville Hotel, will be revealed this Saturday, January 11th.
Twelve star athletes across ten sports who excelled in 2024 will be honoured at a black-tie gala banquet held at the Granville Hotel.
Anticipation is building for the big night celebrating the outstanding achievements of Waterford’s best and brightest, as Waterford’s first Sports Star of the Year is crowned.
Among the competitors for the crown are Ben Johnson, Kate Veale, Henry de Bromhead, Jack Hearn, Jack O’Donoghue, Thomas Barr, Damien Vereker, Kevin Mahony, Pauric Mahony, Katie Murray, Kelyn Cassidy and Conor Kilgannon.
Ten different sports will be represented on the night, with the athletes coming from hockey, athletics, horse racing, golf, rugby, cycling, hurling, ladies’ football, boxing and soccer backgrounds.
There will also be a very special guest on the night, as the first ever entrant to the Waterford Sports Hall of Fame is announced - namely, Alfie Hale.
Alfie Hale is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest footballers ever to play in the League of Ireland. Alfie's foundations began at St. Joseph's before going on to represent Waterford United, Aston Villa and St. Patrick's Athletic among others while also going on to play 14 times for the Republic of Ireland - scoring twice.
His playing career saw him win an incredible six League of Ireland Premier Division titles, five of which came with his native Waterford. Alfie Hale has scored 153 goals in the League of Ireland, ranking him in the top ten players of all time. Hale also managed Waterford, Kilkenny City and Cobh Ramblers - while he also guided Tramore to their first league title in 50 years from the sidelines.
Alfie Hale is one of the most widely respected footballers ever to come from the Republic of Ireland, and a worthy inaugural entrant to the Waterford Sporting Hall Of Fame.
As for the monthly award winners vying to become the overall victor, Ben Johnson was the winner of the January award. Johnson starred as the Irish hockey team qualified for the Olympic Games for just the second time in history.
February’s award went to athletics star Kate Veale, who won a seventh successive 3000m walk title at the National Senior Indoor Championships, coming home in a personal best time to claim her 24th national title.
A superb Cheltenham Festival for local horse trainer Henry de Bromhead saw him land the March award as both Slade Steel and Captain Guinness claimed Grade One victories at Prestbury Park.
The April award went to golfer Jack Hearn, who was part of the winning Irish team at the European Nations Championships, finishing third on an individual level also.
Jack O’Donoghue won the May award, in a month where he also became the youngest man ever to make 200 appearances for Munster, and just the 14th ever to do so.
A phenomenal few weeks for Thomas Barr saw him claim the June award, having been part of the Irish team that won 4 x 400m mixed relay gold at the European Athletics Championships, weeks on from claiming bronze at world level.
July’s award went to paracyclist Damien Vereker, who won five national titles booking his place at a second Paralympic games having previously represented Ireland in Rio in 2016.
A superb Waterford Senior Hurling Championship campaign for 11-in-a-row champions Ballygunner saw the August and September awards go to Mahony brothers Kevin and Pauric, who played a starring role respectively in another historic campaign.
October winner Katie Murray also had a part to play in a historic campaign, firing 10-24 along the way as Comeragh Rangers dethroned Ballymacarbry to win a first ever Waterford Ladies’ Football Championship title, scoring 4-0 in the final.
Kelyn Cassidy won the November award having secured a fourth successive National Elite Boxing Championship title in the men’s 80kg division, beating James Whelan in the final.
The December award went to Villa soccer star Conor Kilgannon, who fired six goals in the month as the club secured their first ever Waterford Premier League and Jimmy Searson Ardagh Premier Cup double.
Chairperson of the Waterford Sports Awards, Jordan Norris said: "It has been an honour and a privilege as a committee to meet with and enjoy the company of Waterford's best and brightest sports stars across the course of the last twelve months. With a range of athletes represented from various backgrounds, the list of nominees exemplifies the county's sporting prowess on not just a national stage - but a world stage. All twelve nominees have done their families, communities and county incredibly proud in 2024 - and we look forward to an evening celebrating their outstanding sporting achievements."
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