McDowell scoops RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year award

US OPEN champion and Ryder Cup team hero Graeme McDowell was last night named RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year.

The award crowned an amazing 2010 for the Portrush golfer, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory, becoming the first ever Irishman to win the US Open, before going on to play a pivotal role in the European Ryder Cup winning team with an incredible putt on the 16th hole of the deciding singles match.

In addition to claiming victory at the Wales Open at Celtic Manor earlier in the year, he finished the season by beating Tiger Woods in a play-off to win the 2010 Chevron World Challenge and also took home the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.

The Irish Men’s Senior Boxing team, winners of an unprecedented five medals at the European Boxing Championships, were named RTÉ Sport Team of the Year.

The collective achievements of Paddy Barnes (gold), Darren O’Neill (silver), Ken Egan, Tyrone McCullagh and Eric Donovan (bronze) marks them out as one of the most successful Irish teams of all time.

As well as acknowledging this year’s sporting achievements, The RTÉ Sports Awards 2010 also paid tribute to one of Ireland’s sporting legends. The ceremony saw snooker star Dennis Taylor honoured with the RTÉ/Irish Sports Council Hall of Fame Award.

This year marked 25 years since his 1985 World Snooker Championship win in which he beat Steve Davis on the black ball in a final often described as one of the sports greatest.

The awards were presented at a gala ceremony broadcast on RTÉ last night. Ryle Nugent, RTÉ Group Head of Sport, said: “RTÉ is thrilled to recognise and pay tribute to the fantastic achievements in Irish sport this year. These awards are testament to the sporting accomplishments of Irish athletes, teams and organisations throughout the country and any one of the nominees would have made worthy winners.

“We look forward to broadcasting further Irish successes in 2011.”