Rory & Kate headline PJ Leddy's highlights of 2025 sporting year

Local reporter PJ Leddy  reflects on the highs and lows of the 2025 sporting season with some local and international highlights making the cut in his selection.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

Ireland's Rory McIlroy made history in April by becoming only the sixth golfer - and the first from Europe - to complete a career Grand Slam of winning all four  majors with his Masters victory at the Augusta National in Georgia.

McIlroy beat England's Justin Rose in a dramatic play-off to claim the famous green jacket in what was McIlroy's first major win since 2014. Rory also played a key role in helping Europe claim a Ryder Cup victory in New York over the United States in September, Europe’s first on America soil since 2012.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR

It was nationally embarrassing on Saturday, March 15 when Leitrim was unable to field a team for the Allianz NFL Division 3 game against Fermanagh  due to an injury crisis in the panel. Twelve Leitrim footballers had suffered soft tissue injuries in previous NFL games and a number of other players from the previous year's squad had retired or emigrated with a  number of players unable to  line out for Leitrim since they would be playing in the Connacht U20 football championship against Galway on the following Wednesday.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

When Dundalk's Kate O'Connor won a silver medal in the Heptathlon at September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, it was the fourth time in 2025 that she had claimed a medal at a major championships. Prior to  Tokyo, Kate won a bronze medal in March at the European Indoor Championships in the Netherlands and a  silver medal at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in China and a gold pentathlon medal in July at the World University Games Athletics Championships in Germany. She is the first Irish athlete to win multi-events medals at major championships.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

In a Leitrim context, Leitrim Gaels made history when they won the Senior football championship for the first time on Sunday, October 19 at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada after defeating Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins 1-19 to 0-14. With 42 minutes played,  it was still level pegging but David Regan put Leitrim Gaels on the road to victory when he scored the game's only goal setting the Gaels on the road to a comfortable and historic  first Fenagh Cup.

HERO OF THE YEAR

Young Dublin footballer Troy Parrott performances in the 2026 World Cup games against Portugal & Hungary that got the Republic of Ireland to the playoff stages were truly heroic. Parrott's two goals against Portugal in Dublin and his three goals against Hungary   in Budapest for the Republic of Ireland means that his team can qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals provided they overcome the Czech Republic and Denmark in March.

PERSON THAT MADE YOU GO WOW IN 2025

David Clifford's performance for Kerry in the All Ireland senior football final against perhaps a slightly leg weary Donegal in Croke Park was absolutely astounding. Clifford scored 0-9 and played the leading role in the Kingdom's 39th All Ireland win. Uniquely, David was named as the GAA-GPA's Footballer of the Year for the third time following Kerry's decisive All Ireland final win. Clifford, aged 26, is now a six-time All-Star.

ONE THING I’D DO TO MAKE SPORT BETTER IN 2026

The introduction of a new rule in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie that would mean that when a game goes to extra-time and the game is still level, the team who gets the final levelling score be declared the winner. This would end the current situation when a game is level at the end of extra-time that requires penalties to be taken to decide the winner. Penalty shoot-outs inflict huge pressure on the goalkeeper and penalty taker. The final score at the end of extra-time would become the 'golden score.'

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2026?

Volunteers, facilities, finance and officials are the main headaches that all Leitrim's amateur sports organisations will face in 2026. Volunteers, involved in all aspects of running clubs, do a massive amount of work on an almost daily basis. With the large number of individuals participating in sport countywide and locally, facilities (pitches, etc) can be difficult to find for them. Raising finance to keep clubs in operation on a year round basis is certainly challenging for club officials in particular. The Leitrim GAA's referee shortage is another challenge to be addressed in 2026.

ONE TO WATCH IN 2026

Can Glencar Manorhamilton Ladies equal Aughawillan’s record of seven LGFA Senior Championship titles in a row in 2026? Glencar Manor claimed their sixth title in a row when defeating St. Joseph's 3-13 to 1-12 last   October, a third loss in a row for St Joseph's - the    question is can anybody stop Manor from equalling Aughawillan’s record of seven titles in a row between 2003 and 2007.