Superb line-up of contenders for Echo Sports Awards 2022
THE ECHO Amateur Sports Awards are back, with the 2022 edition bringing sports stars and teams together for the special ceremony on Thursday evening.
Together with the South Dublin County Sports Partnership (SDCSP) and South Dublin County Council, The Echo has, for the past 14 years being recognising the tremendous achievements of local athletes by way of these awards.
After holding the awards virtually in 2021, The Echo in conjunction with South Dublin County Sports Partnership (SDCSP) and South Dublin County Council are hosting the awards at the Plaza Hotel, the in-person awards night will bring together some of the rising and accomplished stars and teams that have shone across the previous 12-months.
Among the nominees in the running for The Echo 2022 Sports Star of the Year award is 2018 winner, sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke, two-time winner, taekwondo athlete Jack Woolley, and the reigning winner, canoeist Jenny Egan-Simmons.
Swimmers Ellen Walshe and Niamh Coyne are in the all-star line-up alongside boxer Winnie Christina McDonagh while athletics features strongly with breakthrough runners Cormac Dixon of Tallaght AC and Donore Harriers’ Abdel Laadjel.
Motorsport is represented in the line-up by two drivers, Motorsport Ireland Young Driver of the Year Alex Denning and the experienced Bohernabreena man, Anthony Cross.
After blistering through the Dublin Championship and reaching Leinster Junior Championship Final, Commercials became the third hurling team, and fifth GAA team, to make the line-up for The Echo 2022 Team of the Year accolade.
Faughs secured their spot in the Senior One Championship after reaching the second-tier decider while Lucan Sarsfields seized the Division One League title for the first time to earn a nomination for this award.
St Jude’s landed their clubs very first national title when they won the All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Championship and Ballyboden St Enda’s bridged a 51-year gap to win their second ever Intermediate Football title.
Basketball is also represented with Griffith College Templeogue Women’s Basketball team and Éanna Men’s Under 18 Basketball team in contention for the top team award this year.
Two athletics teams also make the line-up after DSD Women’s National League Team and Tallaght AC’s 4x100m Relay Team both struck gold at the nationals.
After winning the Leinster Senior League, Crumlin United complete the competitive line-up alongside TU Dublin Badminton team and Castle Golf Club.
The variety of nominees and scale of female winners is a factor that has greatly impressed Thos McDermott, co-ordinator of SDCSP.
“South Dublin Co. Sports Partnership is a long-time partner of the annual sports awards which it sees as a great reflection of our community,” McDermott told The Echo.
“The breath and quality of the monthly team and individual winners is remarkable, and it is only fitting that their unique contribution to South Dublin Co. is celebrated.
“This year we have winners across 12 different sports which shows the quality of choice people have in local sport and we have female winners in 10 of the 24 team and individual awards, which is especially pleasing as we look to narrow the gap between male and female participation rates.
“To achieve success in sport requires skill, mental toughness, and self-sacrifice.
“All of our monthly winners have shown this in spades, and we warmly congratulate them on their achievements in 2022 and wish them every success in 2023.”
