KATIE TAYLOR HAS capped an incredible year by winning the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
The Bray boxer was crowned world champion for the fourth consecutive time before going on to win gold in the women’s 60kg division at the London Olympics – beating Russia’s Sofya Ochigava in the final at the ExCel Arena in August.
At the awards ceremony tonight, which RTÉ aired live but encountered technical problems when Taylor’s name was being announced, the 26-year-old was recognised after beating off competition from fellow nominees Rob Kearney, Karl Lacey, Fionnuala Britton, Rory McIlroy, Michael McKillop, Joseph O’Brien, Mark Rohan, Henry Shefflin and Jason Smyth.
Billy Walsh, the Irish boxing team’s head coach, picked up Sports Manager of the Year after bringing home four medals from London.
The team award, which was decided by a public vote, went to the All-Ireland senior football champions Donegal while former Ireland football manager Jack Charlton was honoured with the RTE/Irish Sports Council Hall of Fame award for his achievements with the national team between 1986 and 1996.