Sligo Sports Awards 2007 Winners:

Athletics (Junior) - Aileen Ruane
The talented Sligo AC competitor shone yet again in the exacting disciplines of long jump and high jump. A silver medallist in both the high jump and long jump when representing Sligo's Mercy College at the Irish Schools' Athletic Association Track & Field National finals, Ruane then won two gold medals at the AAI National Juvenile Championships at Santry's Morton Stadium. She also represented Ireland at the Celtic T&F Championships.

Athletics (Senior) - Mary Cullen
The Coolbeg native memorably won the Women's 5,000 metres title at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Ð in her last race representing Providence College Ð and she was a gold medallist at the AAI Senior T&F Championships when she claimed the Women's 1500 metres title.
At the EAA European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, she set a new PB (personal best) in the final of the Women's 5,000 metres race. When competing at the EAA European Cross Country Championships in Legnano, Italy, Cullen was 14th in the Senior women's race.

Basketball - Ian McMorrow
2006 was yet another watershed year for Sligo All-Stars Basketball Club. The club's Senior men's team won the inaugural Basketball Ireland Senior Men's National Cup. A thrilling campaign climaxed with a defeat of Longford Falcons.
Team captain Ian McMorrow, a former Irish U-23 international, contributed massively throughout the campaign and delivered his finest performance in the final. His 13 points and overall leadership were invaluable elements in the All-Stars' win.

Coach of the Year - Anthony Brennan
The driving force behind St Attracta's Community School's capture of the All-Ireland Colleges Senior ÔB' Gaelic football Championship Ð the Tubbercurry-based secondary school's first national title Ð the Tourlestrane native got the best out of a multi-talented squad. The former Sligo Minor manager coached the IT Sligo Senior team during their Sigerson Cup campaign and he guided Drimina National School to success in the Cumann na mBunscol Shligigh county finals.

Community Games - Maugheraboy GAA U-10 team
Competing in the Community Games Gaelic football U-10 category, Maugheraboy won the Sligo title, provincial honours and, at the national finals in Mosney, were bronze medallists.
The first Sligo area to win the Connacht title since 1991, they became the first Sligo team to win a medal in this testing category at national level. Overall, Maugheraboy played teams from six different counties and lost just one of their nine games.

Gaelic Football (Minor) - John Quinn
Tourlestrane's John Quinn played an integral part in the three games that encompassed St Attracta's Community School's unforgettable capture of the All-Ireland Colleges Senior ÔB' Championship - the provincial final, All-Ireland semi-final and All-Ireland final. Quinn top-scored in the Connacht final Ð he hit 1-6.
In the decider against La Salle Boys Primary School, Belfast, the Sligo Minor player scored four noteworthy points and was his side's most impressive performer.

Brian Harris

The talented St John's forward was the talisman for the Sligo U-16 team and his scores Ð he scored 1-10 in one game Ð propelled them to the Ted Webb Cup final. At club level, he was the inspiration behind St John's defeat of Tourlestrane in the Sligo Minor ÔA' Championship final. Harris also impressed for St Mary's College, Ballisodare, as they reached the All-Ireland Colleges Senior ÔC' Championship decider.

Gaelic Football (Senior) - Adrian Marren
Curry's outstanding forward was the difference between his team winning and losing as the south Sligo club won the Sligo Senior Championship and Sligo League Division 1A titles.
Marren scored eight crucial points in the county final as Curry superbly overturned a six-points interval deficit to defiantly overcome Bunnanadden.
In Curry's Sligo League Division 1A final dismissal of Tourlestrane, Marren was again prominent. He scored seven of Curry's nine points.

Golf - Michael Durcan
The Sligo Grammar School student, a member of County Sligo Golf Club, Rosses Point, won the Leinster Boys U-15 Open Championship and was joint-third in the Munster event.
Part of the County Sligo U-15 team that won a third successive Connacht U-15 Inter-club title, Durcan, who was named the GUI Connacht Branch ÔJunior Golfer of the Year', also represented County Sligo in various provincial club competitions. He also retained the Harte Cup at County Sligo.

Hall of Fame - Gus Henry
A man synonymous with Sligo Yacht Club and the sailing scene, both locally and nationally, the Sligo town native, now in his 70s, has spent almost 50 years selflessly striving to improve and nurture the sport of sailing in the north-west.
His speciality is GP14s Ð the craft of choice at Sligo Yacht Club since 1963. Henry has built these boats and competed with them at international level. In 2006, Sligo Yacht Club, which now has state-of-the-art facilities at Rosses Point, hosted the GP14 Class World Championships with Henry as the event's Principal Race Officer.

Hurling - Mark Burke
After winning 10 successive Sligo Senior Hurling Championships (1995-2004), Tubbercurry reclaimed their title in 2006.
They overcame Calry-St Joseph's in the decider Ð the fifth successive county final involving these clubs Ð and among their heroes was centre-back Mark Burke.
The defender, who excels in such a pivotal role, can also play in attack and he was part of the Sligo side that reached the AHL Division Three Shield final.

Junior Soccer - Paddy Conlon
The assured left-back was the linchpin of the Abbey United defence Ð and team captain Ð as the Sligo town club maintained their grip on the Sligo-Leitrim Super League. Conlon was also to the fore when Abbey United claimed the Connacht Junior Cup for the first time - they defeated Castlebar Celtic - and he later received an international cap when he played for the Republic of Ireland amateur side.

Ladies Football - Katrina Connolly
The agile reflexes of this goalkeeper underpinned the Sligo Ladies Football team's capture of the All-Ireland Junior Championship. Sligo defeated Leitrim at Croke Park to cauterise the heartbreak of 2004 and 2005.
ÔPlayer of the Match' in the All-Ireland final, the St Nathy's net-minder also made wonderful saves in the quarter-final and semi-final. The Achonry native was deservedly named on the Cumann Peil Gael na mBan ÔTeam of the Season'.

Motorsport - Paul Kiely
The respected and experienced rally navigator was part of the crew Ð he was partnered by leading driver Eugene Donnelly Ð that won the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship for the third successive season in 2006.
They also brought their car, a Toyota Corolla WRC, to first place in the second Rally Ireland pilot event (held last March), the successful organisation of which secured a round of the World Rally Championship for Ireland in 2007.

Soccer - Ciaran Martyn
The accomplished attacking midfielder scored eight goals as Derry City were runners-up in the eircom League Premier Division, finishing behind Shelbourne. An eircom League Cup medallist in 2006, his goals helped bring Derry City to the FAI Cup final Ð he scored twice in the semi-final replay mauling of his home town club, Sligo Rovers Ð although he missed the win over St Patrick's Athletic because of suspension.
Martyn also scored in European competition as Derry City were just one result away from making the group stages of the UEFA Cup. His tally of 15 goals made him the club's second highest scorer in the 2006 campaign.

Top Scorer (GAA) - John Scanlon
In what was his first year playing in the Sligo Senior Championship, Scanlon excelled in St John's run to the last eight. The prolific 19-year-old scored 3-22 (31 points) to take the Sligo Weekender-sponsored ÔTop Scorer' award.
Scanlon's scores were spread over five appearances Ð he averaged six points per game Ð with the highlight being the 1-2 he supplied in St John's defeat of Coolera-Strandhill, the then county champions.

Women's Soccer - Jackie Mulligan
The west Sligo native and Sligo Ladies Football panellist captained the Ballina Town side that won the WFAI Intermediate Cup as well as a host of other honours, including three Mayo titles and a Connacht Cup.
The dedicated competitor, who had a spell in America on a soccer scholarship, was then part of the Mayo League team that won the WFAI Senior Cup - they defeated UCD at Richmond Park.

Youth Soccer - St John's FC
The respected Carraroe-based club celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2006 and did so in the finest way possible - by winning titles on the pitch.
A diligent committee and hardworking coaches made it all possible just as much as the efforts of the respective squads, from U-12 through to the U-18 grade.
Competing in the Sligo-Leitrim Youth, Schoolboys & Schoolgirls League, St John's won titles at U-14 and U-18 level.