Personality of the year award goes to O’Gara

IRELAND and Munster out half Ronan O’Gara was last night named the RTÉ Sport/Hibernian Sports Personality of the Year.

O’Gara, who misses this afternoon’s Heineken Cup game against The Ospreys due to a hand injury, received a Waterford Crystal trophy from Hibernian Group chief executive Bryan Jenkins and Glen Killane, head of television sport at RTÉ, at a function in the Burlington Hotel.

The 25-year-old Corkman became all-time top scorer in the Heineken Cup with 649 points in Munster’s 36-8 round four win over Castres last month and was an integral member of Ireland’s Autumn international success, along with the capture of the Triple Crown.

That latter achievement was also honoured, with Eddie O’Sullivan receiving the Irish Team of the Year award on behalf of his squad.

The International Team of the Year award went to Bernhard Langer’s Ryder Cup side and Dubliner Paul McGinley collected the trophy on their behalf.

Boxing legend Barry McGuigan was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Earlier this week he was informed that he is to be named in the internationally acclaimed Boxing Hall of Fame in June.