DONEGAL, KILKENNY AND LEINSTER will face off, along with seven other sporting collectives, for the 2012 RTÉ Team of the Year.
The All-Ireland and Heineken Cup winners are up for a public vote that will decide upon the nation’s favourite team.
The shortlist includes Donegal, Leinster, Kilkenny, the Irish Paralympics team, Team Ireland [London 2012], Sligo Rovers, Cork Ladies’ football team, the Irish Olympic boxing squad, Wexford’s camogie players and the Irish Women’s cross country team.
The awards will be announced at a live RTÉ One broadcast on 23 December, from 9:30pm.
10 nominees have also been announced for RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
They are golfer Rory McIlroy, Donegal centre back Karl Lacey, Paralympians Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and Mark Rohan, Leinster’s Rob Kearney, Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Taylor, jockey Joseph O’Brien and Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin.
Also included is Fionnuala Britton, who retained her European Cross Country title on Sunday.
Who’s the [top] boss?
The Manager of the Year award will also be decided on the night.
Head of the Irish boxing association’s high performance unit Billy Walsh is likely to battle it out with Donegal supremo Jim McGuinness and Leinster coach Joe Schmidt for the prize.
Also included in the shortlist are Mike Cooke of Drogheda United, Kilkenny’s Brian Cody, Cork Ladies’ Eamonn Ryan and Wexford camogie manager JJ Doyle.
Ian Baraclough, who coached Sligo Rovers to the Airtricity title, is not included.
Presented by Darragh Maloney, the awards will review what was a ‘momentous year’ for Irish athletes and teams, and look back on the dramatic and memorable sporting moments.
The public will be able to vote for their favourite Irish team of 2012 by phone and text on the night.
Voting lines will be open on the night with details announced at the beginning of the programme and the RTÉ website.
Rory mcilroy ? he’s British isn’t he?
He is indeed, We’re as bad as they were with Eddie Irvine!
The title of the award is RTE Sportsperson of the year, not Irish sports person of the year. He’s from Hollywood, Co.Down and RTE is available to watch in that region, so why not include him!
Poor guy, fell sorry for him in relation to this whole British/Irish debate – it’s a no win situation for him in relation to Rio 2016.
Olympic Boxing team should win the team award, if people take off the GAA or Rugby tinted glasses. A small nation beating huge boxing traditions like Cuba and Russia. Katie for Person, & Jim for manager.
Jeepers Rory McIlroy wont be to happy about a nomination for Irish sports person of the year.
This will be the closest call for years, Leinster probably won’t win it due to ulster being in the limelight at the moment at the best team in the land. Athletics team winning again,unreal! Donegal done well too.
Best individual probably Katie with Rory a close 2nd
Eh Leinster hammered them in may so the best rugby team this year are the European champions, ulster are playing really good rugby at the minute but so far have won nothing.
Kilkenny!
ha-ha a picture of a donegal orgy
wicklow doing well this year :) well done ladies
So a silver/bronze medal in the Olympics isn’t good enough for a nomination for Irish sports person of the year?
delighed to see the Paralympics Gold medallist on the list, Paralympic Team Ireland should be nominated and win team of the year…