A night to savour for Leitrim sports

Honouring our sporting stars can sometimes be a tricky business but if last Saturday’s Leitrim Sports Star Awards proved anything, it proves that recognising the achievements of the county’s sporting heroes is not just right, it is absolutely essential.

Returning after a Covid imposed absence, the Leitrim Sports Partnership organised event is probably one of those things that most of the  public have never experienced unless you happen to be nominated or are associated with someone lucky enough to make the final shortlist of nominees.

It is a cliche to say that getting nominated for an Award is recognition in itself and while some think that sort of talk is patronising, I’ve found down through the years that just getting nominated means so much more than you think.

Not much thought for player welfare

THE LAST POINT

A nomination is a recognition that  the hard work, the hours of training, the sacrifice and immense dedication is appreciated by not just your own circle of family, friends and fellow competitors but also that the wider community acknowledges and appreciates your achievements.

The Leitrim Sports Star Awards night is different from your normal club dinner dance in that it brings together all these disparate groups, groups that may never mingle because they are all preoccupied with their own  endeavours. But nights like last Sunday prove  that,  no matter their sport, they all face the same challenges and possess the same inner-fire to succeed.

The drive that propelled Hall of Fame winner Patricia Griffin to represent her country and win numerous titles is the same drive that saw Shane Mallon excel in three different sports before sticking with rugby, a decision that led the Bornacoola man down a road that culminated in being part of a Grand Slam Ireland team that laid waste to the U20 Six Nations Championship last year - and he’s not finished yet!

Picking who wins these awards feels like “Sophie’s Choice” or to use another cliche, you’re struck between a rock and a hard place! Or trying to decide between apples and oranges! That’s enough cliches but you get the picture - evaluating achievements in different sports, between men and women, teams and individuals requires the wisdom of Solomon.

But what really impresses me over the years of these Awards is the surprise expressed by the winners - they might have achieved some remarkable things in their own disciplines but to use a modern phrase, game recognises game, and it seems that our sports people are just as appreciative of the achievements of their peers in other sports.

That’s remarkable because the belief is out there that modern day sporting stars must be solely focused on the task in front of them, self-centred and selfish to a degree, to reach the highest of highs but my experience of that is the opposite - maybe it is because of the sacrifices they themselves make, the challenges they have to overcome, they understand better than most what it takes to excel in any chosen sport.

Mohill GAA celebrate at club's Dinner Dance - GALLERY

Mohill GAA held their Dinner Dance in the Lough Rynn Castle Hotel last Friday, February 3, and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some wonderful pictures of the event ... see who you can spot!

Shane Mallon thought Keith Beirne would get the nod but just consider that for a second -  a Leitrim person who created history as part of an international title winning team felt that somebody else was more worthy  but that’s a common reaction I’ve found down through the years.

That was evident in the reaction to former Dublin star Jonny Cooper - the seven time All-Ireland winner told me he didn’t do too many of these types of events as all his focus was completely on preparing for the game but with MC John Lynch skillfully leading the way, you wouldn’t have guessed that as Cooper had the audience in the palm of his hands.

It wasn’t through one lines, jokes or an outsized personality that Cooper won the audience but more through an easy going intensity and honesty that shone through - something that could be said of many of those absorbing his message in the audience.

Awards, subjective as they often are, can leave some unhappy that certain people didn’t get the nod. I understand that but the process of picking nominees, let alone the eventual winners, has never been taken lightly with pretty strong debate and discussion before a decision is arrived at.

But whether recognition is through a public vote or a panel of judges, what I took from this year’s Sports Star Awards is the incredible calibre  and the breadth of  achievements that this county's sports people has produced.

Shane Mallon wins Overall award as Leitrim Sports Star Awards honours county's best and brightest sporting heroes

Gaelic Football is quite clearly our number one sport but when you look at what has been achieved in soccer, rugby, athletics, angling, martial arts and so much more, you really get a sense that Leitrim’s sports people really do punch above their weight given the population and challenges we as a county face with facilities.

Safe to say, I really enjoyed the entire event and, as a Dub, the chance to chat with Jonny Cooper was a real thrill but to be honest, just to be in    the presence of the brightest and best of Leitrim’s sporting stars, was truly something to savour!