Gaynor and Coghlan top the bill at Nenagh Guardian Sports Awards
A former Tipperary hurling great and a Irish world champion runner headline what should be another terrific night at the third annual Nenagh Guardian Sports Awards on Friday 26th January 2018 at the Great National Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh.
The biggest honour of the night will see Len Gaynor will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, along side previous winners Donie Nealon and Sean Naughton.
As a player, coach and club officer, his influence not only with his club Kilruane MacDonaghs but with club, schools and inter-county level all over the country goes back over five decades.
With Tipperary, Gaynor enjoyed a 34 year playing career that included an eleven-year stint with the senior team, winning 3 All Ireland senior hurling medals in 1964, 1965 and 1971.
He will receive his award from former world athletics champion Eamonn Coghlan who will be the special guest at the Nenagh Guardian Sports Awards.
Universally known as the “Chairman of the Boards”, Coghlan was truly a world superstar at middle distance running in the 1980's, culminating in him winning the goal medal in the 5,000 metres at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in 1983 when he powered past Dmitriy Dmitriyev inside the last 200 metres to power onto win in what is one of the most iconic moments of Irish sport.
Eamonn Coghlan's achievements also include a silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1978 European Championships, as well as three AAAs titles, 11 Irish Championships, a World Cup 5,000m in 1981 as well as seven Wannamaker Miles where his dominance of the indoor circuit led to the title, chairman of the boards.
Coghlan will also present the awards to the twelve montly winners who have achieved national and international success over the last twelve months which deserve to be recognised in a formal setting.
2017's monthly winners so far are:
January - Deirbhile Ryan (Nenagh Olympic Athletic Club) – winner of two silver medals in the Under 23 Shot Putt & High Jump at the National Indoor Athletics Championships
February - Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport Athletic Club) – winner of the Junior & Senior 200m gold at the National Indoor Track & Field Championships
March - Our Lady's Secondary School Templemore – Harty Cup & All Ireland Senior 'A' Hurling champions
April - Thurles Town - NT&DL Premier League winners & Joseph McEvoy (Nenagh Olympic Athletic Club) - won four medals at the National Juvenile Indoor Track & Field Championships, including 2 gold in the High Jump and 60m Hurdles
May - Brendan O'Donoghue (New Institute Snooker Club) – winner of the Irish Amateur Snooker title for the third time, and ending the season as Irish number 1.
June: Sheila Gregan (Athletics) – winner of a bronze medal in the Virtual Triathlon (5k road race, 30k cycle and 1,500m freestyle swim) at the World Transplant Games
July - Aisling Keller (Lough Derg Yacht Club) – winner of a silver medal at the European Under 21 Lader Radial Sailing Championships, & Nenagh Olympic Athletic Club 4x100m Relay team - winner of the gold medal at the National Track & Field Championships
August - Liam O'Meara (Showjumping) – winner of the National Showjumping Grand Prix series.
September - Tipperary Ladies Footballers - All Ireland Intermediate champions & Pat Guilfoyle, trainer and part owner of Good News, winner of the Irish Greyhound Derby
October - Roscrea Minor Hurlers – County 'A' champions & James Prentice & Jerome Cahill - All Ireland Minor 'a' Doubles Handball champions
November – Nenagh Ormond Senior Rugby team who won the Limerick Charity Cup for the first time in their history.
December - Kiladangan Under 21 hurlers who won the County 'A' title for the first time, and Stephen Shoer of Lakeside Pitch & Putt Club who won the Munster Matchplay title, highlight of a year of multiple successes.
Tickets for the Nenagh Guardian Sports Awards on Friday 26th January 2018, in association with Lyons of Nenagh, are on sale now at €50 each and can be bought from the Nenagh Guardian Office on 067-32658. Drinks reception from 7.00pm with the awards presentation getting underway at 8.00pm.