Kelly tops Waterford sporting hero poll

CYCLING legend Seán Kelly has been selected as Waterford’s greatest ever sporting hero. He came out top in the poll run by Waterford radio station WLR FM in conjunction with Anglo Irish Bank.

Now aged 49 and retired from professional cycling for over 10 years, the Waterford-born cycling legend came out on top after almost 7,000 listeners voted for their Waterford sporting hero over a six-week period. Kelly finished just ahead of former inter-county hurling star Tom Cheasty and athlete Percy Kirwan.

Other Waterford sportsmen who made the top 10 included contemporary inter-county hurlers Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn; athlete and Olympic silver medallist John Treacy; boxer Neil Gough; Manchester United and Ireland soccer star John O’Shea and soccer legends Alfie Hale and Paddy Coad.