Three boxers nominated for RTÉ Sports Person of the Year
Three Irish boxers have been included on the 23-nominee long-list for the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
Dublin lightweight Kelly Harrington, Bray lightweight Katie Taylor, and Portlaoise super bantam TJ Doheny have all been nominated for the prestigious gong.
Just last week Harrington claimed gold at the World Championships in New Delhi, Katie Taylor added the IBF title to her WBA crown won last year and posted a further two defences, while Doheny upset IBF world champion Ryosuke Iwasa to take the belt on hostile territory in Japan.
The other 20 nominees are:
Jason Smyth (Para-Athletics)
Chloe Sigerson (Camogie)
Johnny Sexton (Rigby)
Dan Martin (Cycling)
Shane Ryan (Swimming)
Davy Russell (Horseracing)
Jonathan Rea (Motorcycling)
Sanita Puspure (Rowing)
Padraig McCarthy (Equestrian)
Rhys McClenaghan (Gymnastics)
Ayeisha McFerran (Hockey)
Arthur Lanigan-O’Keefe (Modern Pentathlon)
Ellen Keane (Para-swimming)
Cian Lynch (Hurling)
Patrick Hoban (Soccer)
Phil Healy (Athletics)
Brian Fenton (Football)
Katie-George Dunleavy and Eve McCrystal (Para-cylcing)
Thomas Barr (Cycling)
Sinead Aherne (Football)
Sexton, who won Rugby World Player of the Year last weekend, is the favourite for the award.
The nominees will be trimmed to 13 on Sunday December 9th with the winners being announced at the RTÉ Sport Awards on Saturday December 15th.
Unlike last year which was a public vote, a panel of 11 media members and sporting organisation members will pick the winner.
Taylor (2012), Michael Conlan (2015), Michael Carruth (1992), and Barry McGuigan (1985) are all previous Irish boxers who have won the award – while Conor McGregor, who later moved to boxing for a fight with Floyd Mayweather, won in 2016 for his exploits in mixed martial arts. Carl Frampton (twice), Joe Ward, Ryan Burnett, Paddy Barnes, Jason Quigley, and Andy Lee have all previously been nominated
