O’Gara and Ó hAilpín share limelight

AWARD judges couldn’t split Cork’s sporting finest yesterday.

For the first time in its 25 year history, the 2004 Jury's Cork Supreme Sports Star award produced a joint winner Irish rugby out-half Ronan O'Gara and hurler of the year, Sean Óg Ó hAilpín.

Such was the calibre of achievements, that the award scheme part sponsored by the Irish Examiner nominated 13 winners for the 12 monthly awards, with Newtownshandrum's All-Ireland Club winning centre-back Pat Mulcahy sharing the March award with Triple Crown winning Irish rugby coach, Eddie O'Sullivan.

The standard of sporting achievement in Cork last year was underlined by the achievements of other monthly winners, including Manchester United skipper Roy Keane and Curtis Cup hero Claire Coughlan, who claimed the scalp of wonderkid, Michelle Wie at Formby last June.

O'Gara, who gets the plaster removed from his injured right hand tomorrow, said yesterday that the list of award winners underlined the exceptional success Cork enjoyed across all codes in 2004. He paid a special tribute to Sean Óg Ó hAilpín. and his hurling colleagues for the enjoyment the All-Ireland winners had brought to the county.

O'Gara revealed that he hopes to prove his fitness to Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan by lining out for Munster in the Celtic League against Llanelli next weekend putting him in the frame for selection for Ireland's opening Six Nations encounter against Italy in Rome on February 6.

Ó hAilpín told the gathering via video link that being recognised by a Cork judging panel was especially significant for him and his county colleagues. All-Ireland winning coach Donal O'Grady was among the 280 guests at the ceremony at Jury's Cork.

O'Gara's Munster and Ireland colleague Frankie Sheahan was recognised among the monthly winners, alongside National Cup-winning Blue Demons basketball coach, Pat Price, athlete Cathal Lombard, Cork City soccer ace, Colin O'Brien, show-jumper Billy Twomey, road bowler Kieran Gould, and Ballygarvan's 41-year-old captain, Joe Kennefick, who was honoured for the club's achievements in annexing the Cork and Munster JHC last year.