Dublin boss Gavin is manager of the year

Dublin senior football manager Jim Gavin has been selected as the 2013 Philips Sports Manager of the Year, in recognition of his superb achievements this year.

Dublin senior football manager Jim Gavin has been selected as the 2013 Philips Sports Manager of the Year.

On April 28 his Dublin side beat Tyrone by just one point to collect the Allianz League Division 1 title in a close encounter at Croke Park. This was the first league crown that the county has won in 20 years.

Although coming close in 1999 and again in 2011, it took a replay to beat Donegal in 1993. Ironically, Gavin played at wing forward in that replay.

In September this year, Gavin led his Dublin football team to an emotional victory in the All-Ireland final over last year's beaten finalists Mayo.

The single point-winning margin meant that Dublin added the Sam Maguire Cup to the league title they won in April. This was the Dubs' 24th All-Ireland SFC success, and their second in three years.

Prior to his appointment to the senior team in 2012, Gavin had successfully managed the Dublin Under-21s - winning both the Leinster and All-Ireland U-21 Championships.

Michael Ring TD, Minister of State at the Department of Sport, and Cel O'Reilly, Managing Director of Philips Ireland, presented him with the 2013 award at a special luncheon in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel today.

In attendance were the other sports managers who had won monthly awards this year, representatives from Irish sporting bodies, the media and trade customers of Philips Ireland.