John Hayes to be honoured at Canon Hayes Awards
One of the all time rugby greats, John Hayes from will be honoured in Tipperary on Friday, 13th December when he receives the Mick Doyle Award at the prestigious Canon Hayes National Sports Awards at the GN Ballykisteen Hotel.
The Award which is named in memory of another all time rugby great, the late Mick Doyle, is being presented to "The Bull" in recognition of a career that saw him capped 105 times for Ireland and 217 times for Munster, and achieve Six Nations, Triple Crown and Grand Slam success with Ireland and European Cup success with Munster.
A latecomer to the game, he first lined out as a flanker for local club Bruff at the age of 18, and was later an almost constant presence in the Ireland pack from his first cap against Scotland in February 2000. He retired from all rugby at the end of the 2011 season, and is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest and most honourable professionals to ever have worn the red of Munster and the green of Ireland.
Some of the top names in Irish sport will gather for the Awards, which are recognised as being one of the most prestigious in the country, on Friday evening. The Awards which were inaugurated in 1996, encompass all sporting disciplines and adequately reflect the top sporting achievements of the year.
The nominees for the National Award include World and European medal holders; European Eventing bronze medal winner Cathal Daniels, World Para-Athletics discus bronze medalist Niamh McCarthy and Rowing gold medalist (alongside Paul O’Donovan) Fintan McCarthy.
The County Award includes three teams who have reached the pinnacle of their sport; The Tipperary U20 team that won the Munster & All-Ireland championship, The Tipperary Ladies Intermediate Ladies team who also won Munster & All-Ireland honours and FAI Junior Cup Champions & Presidents Cup Champions St. Michael's AFC.
Competing for local honours is underage club and county player Megan Heffernan from Galtee Rovers LGFC, Tipperary U20 goalie and Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams hurler Aaron Browne and Aherlow LGFC sisters and county Intermediate team mates Caitlin & Anna-Rose Kennedy.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is going to the Liam Sheedy managed Tipperary Senior Hurling Team, recognising their outstanding achievement in bringing the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Tipperary.
The are seven nominees for the Volunteer in Sport Award and the Awards will be presented by Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Mr. Pat Breen T.D.