Galway Sports Stars awards to be presented this weekend

Tipperary hurling manager Eamon O’Shea will be the special guest at the Golden Jubilee presentation of the Galway Sports Stars awards on Saturday night.

O’Shea, a Professor of Economics at NUIG and living in Salthill, was a coach to the Tipperary team which won the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2010, led the Premier County to last year’s All-Ireland final only to lose to champions Kilkenny after two epic battles in Croke Park.

Saturday night’s Galway Sports Stars banquet will see the accolade of Galway’s Greatest Living Sporting Legend being bestowed on Christy O’Connor Snr in recognition of a brilliant golfing career on the Irish and international fairways.

Born in Knocknacarra on December 21, 1924, O’Connor’s achievements have stood the test of time as he blazed a trail through the world of professional golf during the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

It was on his local course of Galway that O’Connor developed the classic swing which helped him win a staggering 44 tournaments, including the prestigious British Masters twice, the John Player Classic in 1970, and the News of the World Match Play in 1957.

The first golfer ever to win a five-figure sum in Europe, O’Connor played in every Ryder Cup from 1955 to 1973, setting a record of 10 appearances in the event which stood until surpassed by Nick Faldo in 1997.

In 1958, O’Connor teamed up with Harry Bradshaw to win the then labelled Canada Cup (World Cup) in Mexico, while he was also Irish professional champion on 10 occasions, including in 1978 when he was aged 53.

Subsequently, he became the leading ‘senior’ player of his era, winning the PGA Seniors Championship six times and the World Senior Championship in both 1976 and ’77.

On November 2, 2009, O’Connor received one of the highest honours in the sport when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.

Among those also being feted in the 2014 Galway Sports Stars awards are Conor Cooney (Hurling), Gary Sice (Football), Robbie Henshaw (Rugby), Patrick Hoban (Soccer), Alanna Lally (Athletics), Gary Sweeney (Boxing) and Sarah Dervan (Camogie).

Nicola Ward (Ladies Football), Leigh Roche (Horse Racing), Dean Raftery (Motorsport), Fiona Power (Squash), Kate Kavanagh (Swimming), Tommy Dunne (Manager of the Year), Michael Tobin (Special Dedication), Bernie O’Connell (Service to Sport) and NUIG Boat Club (Club of the Year) will have their achievements recognised on this milestone occasion too.

The Galway Sports Stars awards are the definitive benchmark of sporting achievement in the county and one of Ireland’s most successful companies, Supermac’s, remain on board as sponsors.

The panel of local journalists who adjudicate on the awards are indebted to Pat and Una McDonagh for their continued support.

The selection panel comprised of: John McIntyre, Connacht Tribune; Jim Carney, Tuam Herald; Mártan Ó Ciadhra, Raidio na Gaeltachta; Frank Farragher, Connacht Tribune; Stephen Glennon, Connacht Tribune; Michael Glynn, Connacht Tribune; Seán Bán Breathnach, Raidio na Gaeltachta; Noel Carney, Tuam Herald; Keith Kelly, Connacht Tribune; and Dara Bradley, Connacht Tribune.

A limited number of tickets are available for the Galway Sports Stars banquet (091-536228).