Sinead Aherne Nominated RTE Sportsperson of the Year

  • Dec 10,2018

13 strong shortlist for RTE Sportsperson of the Year announced


The shortlist for the RTE Sport Awards 2018 Sportsperson of the Year was yesterday announced on RTE Radio 1's Sunday Sport.


Darragh Maloney and Joanne Cantwell will present the RTE Sport Awards 2018 live on RTE One on Saturday 15 December at 9.20pm.


Along with the Sportsperson of the Year award the show will also see the Young Sportsperson of the Year, Team of the Year and Manager of the Year honoured as well as a new inductee to the RTE Sport Hall of Fame.


SINÉAD AHERNE

As Dublin put together back-to-back All-Irelands for the first time in their history, captain Aherne led from the front, scoring 1-7 in their victory over Cork to lift the Brendan Martin Cup.


THOMAS BARR

The Waterford athlete won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the European Championship in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, becoming the first Irish male sprinter to win an outdoor European medal in the 84-year history of the event.


BRIAN FENTON

The Dublin midfielder was an integral part of the record equalling four-in-a-row All-Ireland winning team, the Raheny man excelled in 2018 and topped the year off by being named Footballer of the Year.


KELLIE HARRINGTON

Dubliner Kellie Harrington won a gold medal in the lightweight division at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships following victory over Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee, becoming only the third Irish fighter to win a world amateur gold.


ELLEN KEANE

The 23-year-old won Ireland's first gold medal at the European Para-Swimming Championships after a powerful performance in the 100m breaststroke final at the National Aquatic Centre, adding to her bronze in the women's 200m individual medley a few days earlier.


CIAN LYNCH

The 22-year-old Hurler of the Year was the standout player in one of the most memorable hurling championships of all time. The Patrickswell man played in all 18 games as Limerick gained promotion from Division 1B and ended a 45-year wait for Liam McCarthy.


RHYS McCLENAGHAN

The 19-year-old followed up his gold medal at the Commonwealth Games to become the first ever Irish gymnast to claim a European medal in gymnastics by winning gold on the pommel horse in Glasgow.


AYEISHA McFERRAN

The hockey goalkeeper played a starring role with a string of excellent saves, as Ireland created history to reach the Women’s Hockey World Cup Final. McFerran was rewarded for her exploits by being named ‘Goalkeeper of the tournament’.


SANITA PUSPURE

The 36-year-old rower took home gold for Ireland in the women's single sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria after a dominant display that saw her lead from start to finish.


DAVY RUSSELL

The 39-year-old finished a stellar season as Cheltenham ‘Leading Jockey’ with four wins at the festival, triumphed at the Aintree Grand National with Tiger Roll and claimed his third Irish Jump Jockeys Championship.


JOHNNY SEXTON

The World Rugby Player of the Year starred for Ireland as they won only their third ever Grand Slam, had a series win over Australia, and ended the year with a first win against New Zealand on home soil. At club level he played a pivotal role in Leinster claiming an unprecedented European Champions Cup and Guinness Pro14 double.


JASON SMYTH

The fastest para-athlete in the world was breaking records again this summer as he claimed two golds at the World Para-Athletics European Championships in Berlin. The Derry sprinter set new championship records in the 100m & 200m to take his major championships gold medal tally to 18 and remain unbeaten at international level since 2005.


KATIE TAYLOR

The Bray boxer continued her meteoric rise through the lightweight professional ranks by unifying her WBA lightweight title with the IBF belt with a 10th round stoppage of Victoria Bustos.


Information on criteria and judging panel can be found here.


Watch the RTE Sport Awards 2018, Saturday 15 December at 9.20pm on RTE One and the RTE Player.