Galway’s Ryder Cup hero tops Sports Stars list

Date Published: 02-Jan-2013

Galway’s most celebrated golfer and one of Ireland’s most successful sportsman, Christy O’Connor Junior, is honoured with a Hall of Fame award in the 2012 Galway Sports Stars Awards announced this week.

The city native, who competed as a professional at the highest level for over 30 years, will be honoured at the 48th annual awards banquet in the Ardilaun Hotel on Saturday night, January 19.

The affable Knocknacarra man is perhaps most fondly recalled for his contribution to Europe’s retention of the Ryder Cup in 1989.

Galway hurling supremo, Anthony Cunningham, is the Manager of the Year, while Galway and St Thomas’ star David Burke, who was so influential for both club and county in 2012, is honoured with the Hurler of the Year award, while Finian Hanley, who led Salthill Knocknacarra to club glory wins his second Gaelic football accolade.

He will be joined by Special Dedication award winner, Clonbur’s Stephen Joyce, who has given a lifetime’s service to Gaelic football, on and off the field.

Another highlight will be the honouring of Greenfields Hockey Club, primarily in recognition of becoming the first Connacht outfit to capture a national title, as Club of the Year, with one-time club star and Irish U-21 team captain, Brenda Flannery, picking up the hockey award.

The special guest on the night is RTE rugby analyst, New Zealander Brent Pope.

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