Irish boxers nominated for RTÉ Young Sportsperson of the Year
Two Irish boxers have been nominated for the RTÉ Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Wicklow light flyweight Daina Moorehouse and Leitrim featherweight Dearbhla Rooney are both up for the prestigious award having been named on the 13-person shortlist last night.
Bray’s Moorehouse followed up her European Junior gold last year with top prize at the European Youth Championships in Italy. Here the pocket rocket scored an especially dominant final win over giant Russian Kseniia Beschastnova. Having just turned 17 in September, Moorehouse remains a Youth-level boxer next year
Manorhamilton’s Rooney, in her first major international for Ireland, claimed silver at the European Youths, upsetting Russian Valeria Rodionova to reach the final. Qualifying for the Youth Olympics by virtue of this [Moorehouse’s light flyweight class is not on the roster], the Sean McDermott’s boxer would secure a bronze medal here with a dominant box-off win over New Zealand’s Te Mania Shelford.
The other 11 nominees for the Under-20s award are:
Rhasidat Adeleke (Athletics)
David Clifford (Gaelic Football)
Niamh Coyne (Swimming)
Seán McCarthy Crean (Karate)
Lara Gillespie (Cycling)
Kyle Hayes (Hurling)
Sarah Healy (Athletics)
Sommer Lecky (Athletics)
Rhys McClenaghan (Gymnastics)
Donnacha O’Brien (Horse Racing)
Nicole Turner (Para Swimming)
Tyrone light flyweight Jude Gallagher – a bronze medallist at both the European and World Championships this year – can perhaps feel hard done by to be overlooked. The Newtownstewart 17-year-old of the Two Castles club remains a Youth-level boxer next year.
This is the second year of the award with swimmer Mona McSharry winning the inaugural gong.
The winner of the Young Sportsperson award will be chosen by senior members of RTÉ Sport and will be announced at this Saturday’s awards show which will be shown live on RTÉ One.
Bray lightweight Katie Taylor and Inner-City lightweight Kelly Harrington are both on the shortlist for the main award – with Portlaoise super bantam TJ Doheny having been on the long-list.
