Winners of the NMD Sports Awards Announced

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in association with the Sports Association Newry, Mourne and Down (SANDSA) has announced the winners of its sports awards for 2020.The winners of the NMD Sports Awards were announced at a ceremony on Thursday 5 March in the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, Newcastle. The event aims to celebrate the success of local sporting stars and volunteers in the district and their achievements in 2019.

The winners for the NMD Sports Awards 2020 in association with SANDSA are:

• Junior Club Team of the Year 2019 - St Colman’s College, Gaelic Football
• Senior Club Team of the Year 2019 – Kilcoo Gaelic Football Club
• Sportsperson or Team of the Year with a Disability 2019 - Megan McElheron, Equestrian 
• Young Sport Volunteer of the Year 2019 - Niall Flynn, Loughinisland Gaelic Football Club (Kindly Sponsored by Phoenix Natural Gas)
• Sport Volunteer of the Year 2019 - Pat McGivern, Midway United Football Club
• Disability Coach of the Year 2019 - Francie Craven, Newry Sportability Trampolining Club
• Technical Official of the Year 2019 - Tommy Deegan, Newcastle League Football
• Coach of the Year 2019 - Cushla Connor, Newry Gymnastics Club
• Junior Sportsperson of the Year 2019 - Aislinn McMahon, Crossmaglen Rangers Gaelic Football Club
• Senior Sportsperson of the Year 2019 - Kate O’Connor, Irish National Team Athletics/Heptathlon
• Life-Time Services to Sport 2019 - Kathleen Heenan, Newcastle Harbour Swimmers

Speaking at the event, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey recognised the achievements of the local sporting stars and volunteers.

’’The NMD Sports Awards pay tribute to the efforts of coaches, volunteers, mentors, teachers, parents and everyone who has played such a significant role in enabling our sporting stars accomplishments,” he said. “The Council will continue to support the sporting communities throughout the district.  We aim to empower and enable individuals and sports clubs to develop and deliver sporting experiences so that our citizens can enjoy an active lifestyle, from grass roots to high performance.’’

Neil McCracken, General Sales Manager from Phoenix Natural Gas, sponsor of the Young Sport Volunteer of the Year award said, “The NMD Sports Awards help shine a spotlight on some of the unsung heroes that give up their time each week to make sport available and accessible in the local community. That sense of community spirit is important to us at Phoenix Natural Gas and aligns with our ethos of adding value to the communities we serve.  We would like to congratulate Niall for the recognition he has received as winner of the Young Sports Volunteer of the Year and a huge well done to all the other winners and shortlisted finalists.”