Mangan reigns supreme after Monty’ grand victory
Mr. Mangan, from Conna in Co. Cork, was presented with his award by the General Manager of Jurys Cork Hotel, Mr. Fergal Somers, before a distinguished gathering of sports personalities representative of all that is good in Cork sport.
Memories of that famous day at Aintree when Monty’s Pass accomplished a 16/1 long-odds victory, were recalled as Mr. Mangan was given a standing ovation after he was identified as the winner of the Jurys award by former Kerry football star, Pat Spillane.
Acknowledgement of Mr. Mangan’s unique feat was well merited and gave him a narrow edge over the other contenders for the award, the other 10 winners of the Jurys monthly Sportstar awards.
There were only 10 others as golfer Claire Coughlan was a dual winner for the months of July and September.
Pat Spillane was the guest speaker at the lavish banquet, while RTE commentator, Ger Canning, was MC.
It was an occasion of real celebration for the horse-racing contingent because Vincent O'Brien, formerly of Ballydoyle, was inducted into the Jurys Hall of Fame.
Niall Horgan was a winner of the Young Achiever’s Award after captaining both the Cork minor hurlers and footballers in no fewer than 14 championship matches.
The win by Monty’s Pass at Aintree ensured that Jimmy Mangan was a winner of the April award and the other monthly winners were:
Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Shane Coughlan (Mardyke UCC Demons), Alan Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Gearoid Towey (Fermoy), Tom Kenny (Cork), Claire Coughlan (Cork GC), John O'Mahony (Dolphin), Niall Cahalane (Castlehaven), Ben O'Connor (Newtownshandrum), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster).
