Leitrim's wizard from Oz Aine Tighe looks back on 2022

We're back to that time of the year where we look back and look forward at the same time and in the Observer sports department, we're no different! Or maybe we know what works as we return with our popular sports review of 2022 over the next few weeks.

Like last year, we've asked some of the county's brightest sports stars to look back over the last 12 months along with some of those journalists on the sports beat around the county.

Kiltubrid’s Aine Tighe enjoyed a spectacular year with Fremantle Dockers in the AFLW and we asked her to look back on the 2022 Sporting year with some interesting observations from both home and away.

Participation & finance highlighted as key issues for Leitrim LGFA

Highlight of the Year

Watching David Clifford and Shane Walsh go head-to-head in the All-Ireland SFC Final. They made the extraordinary look effortless over the 70 minutes in Croke Park. Both players have every attribute that you could wish for in a Gaelic footballer, exceptional skill, strength, pace, game awareness and a deadly eye to score. To be able to put in such incredible performances on the biggest day of the year with the pressure bearing down was phenomenal. 

Lowlight of the Year

The untimely loss of so many who still had so much to give from Red Óg Murphy, to Dillon Quirke, Damien Casey and Kate Moran, and much closer to home Marian McKeon who had a powerful impact on so many who came through our own club. 

With the controversy over the staging of the World Cup in Qatar, what’s your view on the role of sport and politics/social issues - should they mix? Should they be kept separate?

I don’t think they should be kept totally separate -  I feel athletes are in a unique and privileged position to be able to advocate for others, to call out inequality and discrimination and be a voice for change.

2022 was a year that finally saw Aine Tighe show what she is capable of after two injury blighted years ruined her AFLW journey, twice ending her season before she got to kick a ball in a competitive game - the former Kiltubrid & Leitrim star made such an impact in 2022 that she was voted in the top three in the Best & Fairest awards at the Fremantle Dockers end of years awards, a remarkable achievement!

Personality of the Year

Zach Tuohy cemented his place alongside Jim Stynes as one of the greatest ever Irish players in the AFL. He celebrated his 250th game milestone with an AFL Grand final victory playing a pivotal role for Geelong in a historic win. 

Team of the Year

Irish Rugby Team – A history making year, to take on three of the powerhouses of world rugby in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia and come away with wins across the board is a remarkable achievement. One that is even more significant given the size of our nation, to finish the year the number one ranked team in the world highlights the magnitude of the successes.

What are the big challenges facing Leitrim sport in 2023?

Consistency is a huge part of achieving success in any field and I feel it is the biggest challenge facing Leitrim teams year on year. Building consistency among players and coaches gives you the opportunity to continually elevate standards and expectations, to build training loads in strength and conditioning, develop understanding of tactics and game plans and cultivate a culture of success.

Dust off your walking shoes for the 50 Miles in January Challenge

Leitrim GAA and Leitrim LGFA join forces for first time in fundraising venture that starts on Sunday, January 1, 2023

Event that made me go wow in 2022

Argentina versus France, we were treated to a game that lived up to the wonderful sporting occasion that is a World Cup final. Extraordinary goals, exceptional performances, drama aplenty, extra time, penalties and to cap it off Messi reaching the promised land and lifting the World Cup trophy. Fairy-tale stuff!

One thing I’d do to make sport better in 2023

Equality between male and female athletes across the board.  It’s evident in some sports like tennis and athletics how successful and normal it can be when men and women get the same opportunities and are treated equally. I would love to have more sports get to that level where young boys and girls growing up have access to the very same opportunities to be involved and achieve success in whatever sport they choose to pursue. 

From Tuam to Kenya, 2022 was a sporting odyssey for Leitrim Ladies captain Clare Owens

One to watch in 2023

The Women's soccer world cup in Australia. Watching the growth and evolution of the Irish Women’s  team over the last number of years has been remarkable. It was only 2017 when a group of players had the courage  to demand the FAI deliver a level of respect and investment that is appropriate for an international team. Since then, they have gone on to agree an equal pay with the men’s national team and make history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time showing what can be achieved with the right levels of support, standards, and expectations. 

Check out next week's Observer for the final part of our sporting review of the year from Niall Morahan, Muireann Devaney, Gerard O’Donnell and Michelle Guckian.